French Open: Murray dumps Gasquet

The day is epic match commenced in a Philippe Chatrier bowl with few spectators, thanks to the weather and attendant uncertainty about playing time. Richard Gasquet came on court spotting a shirt in the blue, red and white colours of France, while Andy Murray was in his usual black and white.

Murray opened the match serving wide to his opponentís right side for a winner. Dropping only one point, he clinched the first game. On the other hand, Gasquet fell behind 0-30 and eventually lost the game on a double fault.

Murray held the third game without dropping a point. Gasquet held serve to reduce games tally to 1-3. Using the drop shot at strategic stages, Murray raced to a 5-3 lead and was serving for the set. He lost the first two points and a missed drop shot had him down break point for the first time in the tournament.

He delivered a fast 207kph serve to annul the threat. As he was about to serve at deuce, there was an interrupting sound from the phone of a spectator that was booed as he ran out of the stands. Murray missed his first delivery. His opponent attacked the second delivery to gain the advantage point subsequently the game. From that break, Murray lost the next four games to drop the first set 5-7.

Murray held his serve in the second opener. Gasquet fell behind but struggled to hold. Murray got an early break for a 4-2 lead. He consolidated the break to lead. There was a prolonged struggle in the eighth game Gasquet held his serve to reduce the tally and then broke Murray.

Suddenly there was the spectacle of the first set, as Gasquet held to level at five all. In the crucial 11th game, Murray was down break point but delivered an ace to deuce.