ROTTERDAM 2021, R2: Rublev d Andy 7'5, 6'2

[Sallydaisy]

In R2 at Rotterdam Andy Murray takes on Andrey Rublev.

The 23 year old Russian has raced up the rankings over the last 2 years and is now WR8 (CH) and has 7 ATP Tour titles to his name.

Andy leads their H2H by 1-0 (https://www.atptour.com/en/players/atp-head-2-head/andy-murray-vs-andrey-rublev/MC10/RE44) with a solitary win at the Australian Open in 2017 in 3 easy sets 6'3, 6'0, 6'2. However, that that was immediately after Andys' stellar year in 2016 when he ended up world #1 and with his 2nd Olympic Gold AND Wimbledon titles in the bag.

Things have moved on since then ... due to his injury issues Andy hasn't played as much on the tour and Rublev has made his mark and unseated several top 10 players.

So, 'oor Andy will have to suss out Rublevs' game pdq when they meet again - possibly on Wednesday 3rd March.

[harriet]

I watched Rublev beat Marcos Giron today in Rotterdam. Giron played poorly, many UEs so that rather emphasised Rublev's showing. He took a while to warm up, it went to a tb which MG lost rather than AR won. When AR did get going he seemed a flashy player, going for winners ASAP, and hitting extravagant shots, lines and corners, tho he did have some telling 'down the line' shots.

[Hawkeye]

6.30pm GMT again tomorrow.

http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2021/407/op.pdf

[patmoren]

Come on Andy!!!!

[Sallydaisy]

Here we go! Andrey won the toss and has elected to received.

Andy Murray starts us off.
:GBflag:

P.S. Andrey is the one in the Boy Scout uniform.
;)

[david1610]

Hello everybody. Does anybody have a thread for this? Thank you in advance!
Edit: oops I mean a link!

[lovetennis]

Come on Andy, you can do it :knight:

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds to 15 ... early days. 1-0

[lovetennis]

Nice opening game Andy

[Sallydaisy]

Hello everybody. Does anybody have a thread for this? Thank you in advance!
Edit: oops I mean a link!
Hi David - it's on Amazon Prime in the UK.
AND You can watch all matches live on Ziggo Sport Tennis in The Netherlands or TennisTV.com when you are abroad.

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds, 2-1. A few dropshots in play ... not all over the net!
:lol:

[harriet]

decent serving from andy, but ruby is a pretty quick returner

[lovetennis]

Definitely looking sharper than his previous match. Serving better too in his first two service games :thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

Little glimmer as Andy gets to deuce on the Rublev serve ....

[Sallydaisy]

Apparently Andys' first serve is 15k faster than it was on Monday night - and he's earning a lot more points on those first serves.

C'mon Muzzah!

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds for 3-2. Both players have just gone to deuce on their serves ... good for Andy to come through that one.

[lovetennis]

No matter what happens, this is definitely a step up on Monday. He just needs a run of games to build his game and confidence.

All this "he should retire" nonsense? Phooey

[harriet]

crunch! andy ate that second serve!

[lovetennis]

BP, c'mon Andy

[banskogirl]

With you all in spirit guys but hiding from the scores until later tonight when I can watch alone!

Enjoy! Go Andy!!

[harriet]

3 all, some good tennis from both

[Sallydaisy]

Rublev to serve *3-4

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds to 30 to lead 5-4 on serve in the 1st set.

[lovetennis]

Andy pulls the game out 5-4, despite chuntering that he's "under-prepared"

[harriet]

c'mon andy, do it now!

[harriet]

5-5, andy missed a chance there

[Sallydaisy]

Eek, a DF gives the Russian a break point.
Saved.

[Sallydaisy]

Another break point for Rublev as Andy hits a shot into the net.
:sofa:

[harriet]

df! break point down, deuce, ad ruby!

[Sallydaisy]

Another DF and Rublev breaks.
And that's Andys' racquet smashed good and proper.
:smashed:

Rublev to serve for the first set 6-5

[Jane]

:smashed:

[harriet]

andy crashes his racket, ruby to serve for the set!

[lovetennis]

Just have to break straight back and take the TB Andy :nailbiter:

[Jan]

Watching on live scores. Come on Andy!!

[Mandiemoo]

That was bad timing with the df's. Been high quality so far really.

Cmon Muzz!

[Sallydaisy]

Rublev *0-15 (great return to a 2nd serve from Andy)

*0-30, 15-30, 15-40
... and a great backhand from Andy to bring up 2 break back points.

[david1610]

Watching on live scores. Come on Andy!!

Me too! My old tennistv account caused too many problems to activate! C'mon Andy!

[Sallydaisy]

Rublev saves both and it's deuce.
Ad Rublev.

1st set to the Russian 7-5 ...

[Jane]

:crying:

[lovetennis]

That set was close. If Andy can keep this level going, he's still in it

[Sallydaisy]

Despite Andy losing that set the tennis quality from both is really good, and it was only a couple of errors from Andy in that 11th game that gave Rublev the edge needed. Hard won breaks, even harder to break back. I think they're both 'thinkers' and they look as though they're playing a game of chess out there. Apparently, both 'Andys' like boxing ...

I think it's really encouraging to for Andy to be playing like this against the WR8, whose own game has come on in leaps and bounds in the last 3 years whilst Andy has been mostly sidelined with his hip injury and operations.

[Stell]

Nice to see the old Andy back!! I wonder what Rublev is thinking.

[harriet]

nearly, but first set to ruby 7-5, but andy serves first again

[Sallydaisy]

Good for Andy, not looking at all beaten, he holds to 0 for 1-0 in the 2nd set.

[Mandiemoo]

Can't take my eyes off Rublevs jewellery, a medallion, bangles, chains etc.

Hope Andy can find a break point or 2 in this set, would be nice to go to 3

Cmon Muzz!

[lovetennis]

Andy sticking with it well, 2-1 2nd set

[Sallydaisy]

Lovely crosscourt forehand from Andy to seal that game to 15.
He's 2-1 up in the 2nd.

I'd love it for him to force this to 3 sets, even if he loses.
Match practice at this level is invaluable.
His movement is amazing!!!

He needs to get Rublev OFF his comfort zone on the baseline.

[pabbers]

Don't mind too much what happens here. The first set was tremendous. Andy going toe to toe with a young gun and looking as good as ever with room to improve. The only downer is the standard of commentary. On Monday they even got onto the subject of the Eurovision Song Contest!

[Sallydaisy]

Rublev pushing for a break here, Andy needs to keep that serve going.

*15-0, 15-15, 15-30, 15-40 ... 2 BPs for Rublev

1 saved tactically by Andy ...

[Sallydaisy]

Rublev breaks ... will be serving at 3-1.

He's a big hitter from the back of the court but really not much variety.
*sigh*

[pabbers]

Oh dear.

[harriet]

ruby breaks, serving at 3-2

[Sallydaisy]

Don't mind too much what happens here. The first set was tremendous. Andy going toe to toe with a young gun and looking as good as ever with room to improve. The only downer is the
standard of commentary. On Monday they even got onto the subject of the Eurovision Song Contest!
I've got my volume down as low as I can to avoid listening to Barry Cowan!
:lol:

[Teresa]

Not a good time to start watching

[Sallydaisy]

Quick love service game and it gives Rublev a 4-2 lead. Andy to serve.

[harriet]

andy taking a game off, ruby holds to love, andy at 4-2

[Sallydaisy]

Not a good time to start watching
You missed a fantastic first set which shows the difference between one player having had more match practice than the other over the last few months!
:whistle:

[Sallydaisy]

DF from Andy and that's another break to Rublev who'll serve for the match at 5-2 up in the 2nd set and one set already in the bag.

[harriet]

df, ruby will serve after another break.

[Hawkeye]

Andy still so annoyed about the end of the first set that he is about to lose the second set.

[Mandiemoo]

Rublev is growing in confidence now..... Andy seems to be fading a bit under the relentless Rublev hitting.

So Rublev serves for it.

Cmon Muzz!

[Sallydaisy]

Rublev wins 7'5, 6'2.

Well done to the Russian and kudos to Andy Murray who kept that very competitive in the first set and misfired a couple of serves in the 2nd but continued pushing Rublev good and proper. I hope he can nab a Wildcard into another 1 or 2 European events in the next week or so to keep the momentum and match practise going.

[lovetennis]

Sad Andy couldn't get the win, but plenty of good signs

[harriet]

well played andy, but be better next time!

[Hawkeye]

I possibly enjoyed that more than Monday despite the result.

[jackie55]

:crying::crying:

[Stell]

Totally outplayed by Rublev.

[Sallydaisy]

Match stats. https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/match-stats/archive/2021/407/MS013

They both hit 5 Aces. Andy hit 3 Double Faults, Andrey 0
First and second Serves: Andy 56% Andrey 53%
First serve points won: Andy 72%, Andrey 75%
2nd serve points won: Andy 48%, Andrey 68%
Break points saved: Andy 50%, Andrey 100%

[RosieBear]

Not to be for Andy tonight but many positives - literally only a couple of dfs separated Andy from a top 10 player in the first set which could have gone either way. Rublev more dominant in the 2nd once he had the cushion....oooo it could have been different...but hey ho Andy definitely going in the right direction, great tournament for him. Hope it shuts up the people who have been upsetting and stressing him (see newspaper thread). Great days ahead for Andy.

[pabbers]

I possibly enjoyed that more than Monday despite the result.
Definitely. I think, especially having listened to his interview, that as much as anything, Andy is lacking mental stamina. That will also improve with more matches. I thought this was very pleasing tonight. His physical condition is superb! Rublev ran him all over the place and Andy was up to the challenge.

[patlowe]

No win tonight, but I was very encouraged by Andy's level, esp in the first set. He was by far the best commentator out there tonight, top mark's for that! I do hope Andy will have a positive take on his performance tonight. Here's to the next time.

[murrayfan89]

Feels like a while since I was last on here. Great to see some familiar usernames and Andy out there giving it his all. I only managed to catch the second set unfortunately and Rublev was playing pretty well. I'm sure Andy will continue to improve though.

[JAMES4578]

Andy played a pretty high level on the first but could not quite capitalise , thought 2nd a bit disappointing though Rublev displaying some hot form. A few too many errors from Murray though. Still certainly a different player from Monday and positives to take forward.

[Sallydaisy]

Totally outplayed by Rublev.
That's a somewhat overstatement of how Rublev played, given how close it clearly was to most others watching, but you are welcome to your opinion...
;)

[RosieBear]

David Law on Twitter:

"The press conference Andy Murray has just given after his 5-7, 2-6 defeat against Andrey Rublev would leave no-one in any doubt about how seriously he is taking this comeback."

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[Sallydaisy]

From Simon Cambers on Twitter: (https://twitter.com/scambers73)
"In many ways, good to hear Andy Murray as self-critical as ever after his defeat by Rublev. Felt he blew the first set, making uncharacteristic mistakes on big points. Hopes to play Dubai and Miami, wants to continue playing top-level events, says he will improve faster that way"

[themass15]

Was impressed with the way Andy played in the first set, a vast improvement from his first match.

[Stell]

I meant mainly for the second set. I know Andy must have been frustrated, but over time and having more matches, I think we'll see Andy back (before he had all of his injury problems).

[harriet]

can anyone post Andy's presser? or not possible from Amazon?

[banskogirl]

Well done that man! What a guy :sirandy: everything tonight showed why we love him!

A few more matches like this and I have no doubt Andy will be winning those few extra points needed, that make the difference at the end of a set. It was so close it could've gone either way and then who knows what would've happened.

I think it was a win/win tonight as it showed Andy and us what he is still capable of and that's what he needs. I don't care what others are saying, they've always been waiting to say something. I just hope Andy stops giving them the time of day!

Ready for the next tournament :boogie: this has been such and uplifting week!