Madrid R1: Andy vs Vavassori, Thursday not before 3.30 pm

[cazza99]

Andy vs qualifier Vavassori match thread.

[Hawkeye]

Players should be out in the next 10-15 minutes.

[exislander]

A forgettable opening service game.

[Hawkeye]

Andy broken to love in the first game. Body language not good.

[themass15]

Not playing his best

[Hawkeye]

3-0 down already.

[Jane]

:sad:

[Hawkeye]

Andy on the board at least, 4-1.

[Hawkeye]

First set gone, 6-2.

[clancy]

1st set to the qualifier.

[Hawkeye]

Andy broken to love in game 3 of set 2.

[clancy]

Needs to break him.

[Teresa]

Oh dear. It’s becoming obvious clay is too much for him. Poor chap.

[clancy]

Yes!!

[Hawkeye]

Andy breaks back for 4-4.

[Hawkeye]

Andy holds for 5-4*.

[clancy]

Nose in front.

[Sallydaisy]

:nailbiter:

[Hawkeye]

Tie break at worst, 6-5*.

[Hawkeye]

Tie break it is.

[Hawkeye]

Two mini breaks for Vavassori, *4-1.

[Hawkeye]

3 match points...

[Hawkeye]

Two saved on the Vavassori serve one left on Andy's...

[Hawkeye]

3 saved!

[Sallydaisy]

6 all
Can Andy hold and break now to take this set?
:hmm:

[exislander]

3 saved!

of course!

[Hawkeye]

A fourth match point, back in the Vavassori serve... an unbelievable miss from Andy.

[Sallydaisy]

6 all
Can Andy hold and break now to take this set?
:hmm:
Nope. The Italian breaks and will serve for the match at 7'6

[Hawkeye]

Saved again!

[Sallydaisy]

:lol:

[Hawkeye]

A fifth match point, this time back on Andy's serve...

[Hawkeye]

All over. Yet another error.

[Teresa]

Sad for him, but I imagine clay is just too much for mechanical hip. Roll on the grass.

[Jane]

:crying:

[clancy]

Not quite what I expected.

[Sallydaisy]

:shrug:

[patlowe]

Yes, he lost, but...very encouraging to see him play and serve so much better in set 2. A few bloopers at the net cost him in the TB. I'm sure Meddy will sort Vavassori out! Though Vavassori did say some nice words about Andy!

[themass15]

I can't help but feel he should concentrate on the grass

[JAMES4578]

Certainly disappointing, a better performance in the 2nd but to no avail with faltering net play. Needs to see if Andy sticks to his plans, may best to skip French Open anyway.

[HoopGirl]

I think he just needs more practice - he was so much more competitive second set and could have got that second set - maybe even should have got it. That’s got to be an improvement. He’s always been slow with clay. The question is will he get enough wins to avoid the top players for Wimbledon? And is it worth it for him?

[banskogirl]

:crying: Played much better in the second which might be what he uses to play at the French

Is he just :rusty:

[supergran]

Another loss on the devil dirt but 2nd set was much better and I really thought he'd get the tb. He has so little practice on clay but he keeps going. I think he's just determined and hopefully will eradicate the errors that are frustrating him. I have no advice for him as if he wants to battle on the clay courts I'm happy to cheer him on. He's a stubborn ****** isn't he?