Miami 2012 - R2: Andy thru' to R3, fells Falla 6'2, 6'3

[Sallydaisy]

Andy gets his Miami campaign underway on Friday 23rd March when he plays Alejandro Falla in R2.

The H2H (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Players/Head-To-Head.aspx?pId=MC10&oId=F444) is 1-0 in Andy's favour; the win being in the Qtr Final in Los Angeles in 2010 with a 7'6, 6'1 scoreline.

However, Andy has beaten Alejandro on one other occasion - and perhaps a more significant one back in 2005 when Muzzah beat the Colombian to take his first ever Challenger title at Binghampton at the age of 18.

Falla came through R1 6'1, 2'1 (ret'd) against Denis Istomin so he'll have got a feel for how the courts are playing. Currently ranked #71 he reached a career high of #58 a couple of years ago but with a game best suited to clay he's likely to find a match against Andy tough going indeed. The 28yr old hasn't won any career titles (Andy has 22 and is 4yrs younger!) and so far this year his win/loss record is 4/6 (Murray 14/3).

Here's hoping Andy is up for the match and posts an easy win!
:thumbup:

[LC the fan]

Amen to that SallyD. Andy needs a good run in Miami which would change things from the last couple of years. If he is going to catch Fed this year he needs to get a few wins in now

[Alis]

I'm glad it's Falla and not Istomin, although I think I remember Falla giving Fed a run for his money at Wimbledon a few years ago.

[scrapaddict]

Fingers crossed its a straightforward match!

[pabbers]

Thanks, Sally - I'll just settle for a W easy or not and regardless of how straightforward it should/could be :cauldron:

[Aussie Andy]

Besides, when Andy has a rough start and he gets past it, he tends to go deep (French Open '11, Brisbane '12, etc.) So yes, as long as he wins all's good.

[traveller7]

Nice to see him play again, hopefully a good tournament for him

[JAMES4578]

Nice to see him play again, hopefully a good tournament for him

Unfortunately we won't be able to see it, as there's no coverage till Saturday! Hopefully though Andy is on decent form and it won't be a nailbitter following it-though I'll take a win in any fashion! Obviously Falla has been tough on his day and so we can't take anything for granted, even if there would've been tougher openers.

[banskogirl]

Will just be glad to hear that Andy wins this!

[Aya]

I'm sure he's got this in the bag. No way he's losing his 1st round match again (...and I'm a pessimist by nature). Come on Andy!!

[Jan]

according to Neil Harman, Andy is first on at 11am, which I think is 3pm here

[Linda]

Yes, the schedule (http://www.atpworldtour.com/Scores/schedule.aspx?EventId=403&Year=2012&Seq=5) is up now, he's first on.

[traveller7]

Not too bad, im around tomorrow so should be able to watch it.

[Aussie Andy]

That sucks, it's 11:00 pm my time, and I'm working in the morning.:doh: Cheer him on for me, please! (I want to wake up to GOOD news, Andy!)

[Caro]

It is soooo annoying that the sky coverage doesn't start in time for Andy's match .... even more annoying when I pay through the nose for sky sports!! :grrr::grrr:

[-J-]

It is soooo annoying that the sky coverage doesn't start in time for Andy's match .... even more annoying when I pay through the nose for sky sports!! :grrr::grrr:nice to know you helped pay for rooneys hair plugs tho;)

[Caro]

nice to know you helped pay for rooneys hair plugs tho;)

.... and I don't even like football ..... unless it's the world cup!! And as for Wayne Rooney - he is beyond words!!

[-J-]

.... and I don't even like football ..... unless it's the world cup!! And as for Wayne Rooney - he is beyond words!!every pound you give sky 50p goes to the EPL

[-J-]

think i might abandon Andy and go play later, to nice a day to stay in and stare at LS, besides if Miami cant be bothered showing 2nd round matches why should i bother with it :grrr:

[JAMES4578]

There's no coverage anywhere until the saturday in both Indian Wells and Miami, wish they'd get it sorted out as some of the big names are playing before then! Hopefully though we'll be able to see Andy soon!

[lynne]

Best of Luck Andy!!!:thumbup:

[40-15]

good luck Andy!!

[Madeline]

I hate livescores. Brings back memories of the agony of watching them in 2005 when Andy was playing Challengers. It's so infuriating when there is a long gap, and you don't know if it's a long rally, an injury, a spectator riot or what!

[Jane]

Best of luck. Andy:thumbup::thumbup:

[david1610]

C'mon Andy!

[sophie900607]

Good luck Andy!!!!!!! :)

[harriet]

anyone found a stream?

[lynne]

I hate livescores. Brings back memories of the agony of watching them in 2005 when Andy was playing Challengers. It's so infuriating when there is a long gap, and you don't know if it's a long rally, an injury, a spectator riot or what!


I was just thinking the same myself!!!:)

[david1610]

Phew! Andy holds after deuce....

[Madeline]

Phew, seemed a bit of a nervy first game.

[david1610]

Phew! Andy holds after deuce....

[harriet]

long game, deuce, second serve, A, def taking his time today, at least he's won that!

[david1610]

Would you trust this or not? http://sporteventsblog.com/live-streaming-andy-murray-vs-alejandro-falla-atp-miami-23-03-2012/
Cost a few dollars and you have to cancel afterwards otherwise a bigger fee levied after 72 hours?
Surely it is automatic and they won't have a stream?

[Jan]

home! Come on Andy!!

[harriet]

andy had a break point, didn't take it,now another, fluffed - he'll regret that!

[Jan]

kitkat:cheer:

[harriet]

Kitkat!!!

[Madeline]

Well, Andy eventually breaks for 2-0 on what I think was the 5th break point opportunity!

[-J-]

andy had a break point, didn't take it,now another, fluffed - he'll regret that!how do you know it was fluffed? where are you watching?

[40-15]

early break - brill :swingin:

[-J-]

kitkat :boogie:

[LC the fan]

I hate livescores. Brings back memories of the agony of watching them in 2005 when Andy was playing Challengers. It's so infuriating when there is a long gap, and you don't know if it's a long rally, an injury, a spectator riot or what!

Me too - they are agony. I always think I'll leave it to find out the result and then find I cant turn them off. Ah well - just one of the agonies of being an Andy fan

[Sallydaisy]

Breakbackpoint for Falla.
:sofa:

[david1610]

Broken back. Wonder if it is windy. Andy needs to break again. C'mon Andy!

[harriet]

df in this game, now 30-40 down, and falla breaks straight back, DRAT, 1-2

[Madeline]

Aaarrghh, what's happened? I had to answer the phone and come back to find Falla breaking back and holding!

[harriet]

falla holds to 15, 2-2, i have things to do, catch up later

[TPW]

Me too! I am encouraging my phone screen just staring at the scores...

2-2

[JAMES4578]

Pity about that and Falla holds for 2 all, come on Andy! Hopefully he'll be back in control soon enough!

[RoastLamb]

We have Neil Harman's courtside commentary on twitter to accompany livescore. Better than nowt!

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds to 40 for 3-2.

[sophie900607]

I hate that there's a coverage about a challanger but about the Miami Masters you don't have any...

[sophie900607]

Andy's broken again! How about consolidating this time? Come on Andy! :)

[RoastLamb]

I wish Federer's half were playing today instead of Andy's. But I guess it's typical.

[Madeline]

:grrr:I can't believe it, but since starting to follow this match I have had 2 phone calls and 2 knocks at the door.

[Jan]

5-2* well held Andy!

[Madeline]

That's better Andy - now break again so you are serving first in the second set, please.

[david1610]

Yes... https://twitter.com/#!/neilharmantimes is about as good as we are going to get without piccies!
C'mon Andy!

[Golden Lady]

1st set in the bag! :cheer::cheer::cheer:

[Jane]

Woo-hoo - first set in the bag 6-2:cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer:

[Madeline]

That's better Andy - now break again so you are serving first in the second set, please.

I do like a man that does as he is told. . .:yahoo:

[40-15]

first set 6-2 - brilliant Andy!! :swingin:

[sophie900607]

1st set!! :)

[Sallydaisy]

Neil Harman tweets from Miami - 1st set commentary.

AM practicing on half the stadium court with bro Jamie while Falla occupies other half with Robin Haase! Very pleased to welcome @Mike_Dickson_DM (https://twitter.com/#%21/Mike_Dickson_DM) and @DavidLawTennis (https://twitter.com/#%21/DavidLawTennis) to the press room at KB. It was getting a little lonely here

A little touch of breeze but a very warm morning in Key Biscayne. Tough conditions for AM. Lost 1st match here last two years. AM, all in white with orange flashes, quite sensibly wearing a cap, Falla, too. Not a cloud in the sky.

Team Murray - Mr Lendl, Mum, Leon Smith, Jez, Andy, Lou of XIX, Kim (girlfriend) Rob and someone I don't recognise

Deuce in the opening Murray service game but he holds on reasonably steadily. 1-0. One very pesky black bird (need Simon Barnes for precise variety) making enough noise for a tree-full. Very off putting

Break point for AM saved with whippy Falla serve to the backhand, slice return long
A forehand return misses its mark on 2nd BP
Then a backhand cross-court return on a 2nd serve flies wide.3 BPS gone already.
But Falla nets with a flicked forehand on 4th BP and it's 2-0 AM

But the break is lost immediately when a forehand crosscourt flies wide. 2-1. Still a little twitchy
Falla holds comfortably, his crosscourt backhand has real zip and is forcing AM to miss when pulled wide on the forehand. 2-2.

AM holds to 15 finishing with an ace, leads 3-2. The exchanges are edgy though. First round-itis. 2 more break points for AM.Needs just the one, forcing the pace off the ground and Falla nets with backhand slice. 4-2.

Far better service game behind the break. AM holds to 15 and leads 5-2. Just needs to see this set through and relax a bit.

My signal went down for a second. Sorry. Murray breaks once more and takes 1st set 6-2. Making Falla miss quite a lot now.
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Andy held for 6'2. 54% first serves in, 1 Ace and 1 D/Fault.

[Sallydaisy]

Oooops, look out Andy; Falla has a breakpoint in the opening game of the 2nd set.
Saved with an Ace!!!
Hold from Muzzah for 1-0.

[Golden Lady]

Well held Andy, you were 15-40 down in that game!

[Madeline]

419 Well recovered, Andy.

[Golden Lady]

Kitkat!!! :cheer: 2-0 2nd set.

[Madeline]

Kitkat - NOW HOLD!!!!!

[Golden Lady]

Andy cements the break and leads 3-0 2nd set :swingin:

[sophie900607]

3-0 let's go Andy, let's go! :)

[Madeline]

3-0* - ok now Andy, that should have blown the cobwebs away. Let's have an easy hold from here on, please. My blood pressure won't stand much more excitement like the first set.

[david1610]

Andy cements the break
He'd better not do that on the hallowed grass of Wimbledon :shamed:

[Madeline]

4-1*. Surely he can see it out from here.

[david1610]

C'mon Andy! 30-30 4-2 Safe hold please!

[Jan]

hmm df to hand the break back

[Golden Lady]

Oh Andy! Back on serve now

[Madeline]

Oh, good grief.

[LC the fan]

What is this boy of ours doing ???

[Madeline]

There are as many breaks of serve in this match as in the WTA.

[Golden Lady]

Andy now serving for the match!

[sophie900607]

1 more game needed!!

[LC the fan]

one steady head needed !!

[david1610]

Back on track.... 5-3

[Golden Lady]

:cheer::cheer::cheer: Well done Andy!!!

[Jane]

Well done, Andy 6-2 6-3. :cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::cheer::)

[Jan]

:yahoo::yahoo: well done Andy!

[40-15]

well done!! - into the next round 6-2, 6-3 - brilliant!!

:clap: :swingin: :clap:

[Sallydaisy]

2nd set ........ commentary from Neil Harman.

Murray holds having saved two break points in 1st game of 2nd set. I can hear the sound of a trumpet (I kid you not).

AM turning the screw very nicely.
Leads 2-0, finishing off that game with a forehand crosscourt-forehand volley combo.
Then 3-0 with the kind of blistering forehand down the line that he needs to add to his armoury.

Confident holds from AM, full of strong, rhythmic hitting. He leads 4-1 in the 2nd

For no real reason, a lapse. AM is 4-2 30-0 then plays three loose shots and a double fault to concede serve. 4-3

An equally profligate Falla drops serve to love, though AM struck a couple of very crisp winners. Serving for it at 5-3
GSM AM 6-2, 6-3. Drop shot to finish A couple of wobbles but pretty comfortable in the end. Possible 3rd round v. Raonic. Very interesting

[sophie900607]

Congrats Andy!! :clap::clap:

[Alis]

We could have done without the wobbles but well done, Andy - onwards and upwards!!!!!

[Madeline]

Well thank goodness for that!

This is the 7th time Andy has played this tournament; the other 6, he has gone out in the first round 4 times, lost in the semis once, and won the tournament the other. So hopefully we can now look forward to a deep run!

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

He got the first match monkey off his back .........
:thumbup:

[LC the fan]

Well done, Andy :clap: always good to get that first game out of the way. Probably Raonoic next which might be a bit of a challenge but a good basis now to suss out the court spped and to get this seriously underway

[Alis]

:cheer::cheer::cheer: :clap::clap::clap: :cheer::cheer::cheer:

[lynne]

Well Done Andy!!!!!!!:thumbup:.........made it a lot easier to have Mike Dickson & Neil Harman's updates!!!:thumbup:

[david1610]

Well sounds like he didn't have to get out of second gear and so didn't!
If it is Milos next, better get some serving and return practice in!
At least the dreaded first match of the tournament is over!!

[Jennan]

Thank goodness he won. Looking forward to the next match, should be interesting.

[harriet]

sounds pretty straightforward after the first 4 games. i see he won two thirds of the points on both his first and second
serves.time was he dropped his second serve half the time, hope he's losing that silly habit - unless he's trying for second serve aces!

[hfwardhouse]

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

[RoastLamb]

Good stuff! Now we just need Milos to win. Beyond excited!

[SamP]

Fantastic win, seriously can't stress what a relief I think that win will be for him personally.

[Katie]

So pleased that Andy won! :cheer: Sounds like he played really well too.

[ljs]

have just come home and see he won yayy Andy :cheer:

[karanga]

:swingin: :clap: Well done Andy.

[Elenive]

Job done! Next match here we come :)

[MurrayAOne]

Well in Andyyyyyyyyy!!!! Come Oooooooon!!!!!!!

[VamosVixs]

Back to winning ways! :yahoo:

[pabbers]

Comprehensive if slightly nervy win.........well done Andy!!!

[Linda]

Well done Andy! Delighted to see such a good scoreline - I must admit to having been a little apprehensive, considering Falla took Fed to 5 sets at Wimbly not so long ago!

[-J-]

good job Andy well done:clap::clap:

[scrapaddict]

Such a relief to get this out of the way and a good scoreline too - well done Andy

[HoopGirl]

Well done Andy - that's a relief!

[Genbrit]

Well Done Andy - had to come on in lunch break at work to find out score. usually wait until i get home but seeing as it wasn't on TV so couldn't record decided to find out. was also a little scared of the first round thing.

[JAMES4578]

Glad it was such a convincing win, great stuff Andy!:cheer::cheer: ok he did drop serve twice but reports suggest he played pretty well overall. Obviously there will be stiffer challenges ahead,Raonic's match with Clement has just got underway.

[banskogirl]

Great win for Andy! Bit nervy with all early round matches at the minute. Big sigh of relief and lots of smiles :) :) :)

[Aussie Andy]

Delighted to wake up and find Andy's won! Fantastic! Now make up that gap between you and Fed, eh?

[traveller7]

Great result, on to the next!