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Murray survives danger, Warwinka advances

By Jacob Akindele
02 June 2017   |   3:50 am
The world number one player and top seeded Andy Murray scaled through a stiff challenge from Martin Klizan of Slovakia, whom is ranked 50. The thriller on Suzanne Lenglen Court ended 6/7 (6); 6/2; 6/2; 7/6 (3).

British player Andy Murray returns a ball to Croatian tennis .JAVIER SORIANO / AFP

The world number one player and top seeded Andy Murray scaled through a stiff challenge from Martin Klizan of Slovakia, whom is ranked 50. The thriller on Suzanne Lenglen Court ended 6/7 (6); 6/2; 6/2; 7/6 (3).

Murray opted to serve in the first set and dropped the first two points. This turned out a bad omen for the set. He faced two break points at 30 to 40 but annulled them with his hard serving. He lost the first opportunity but held on to the next to clinch the opening game. After losing the first point on serve, Klizan won the next four to level one game apiece. He broke Murray’s serve in the third game and consolidated for a 3 to 1 lead. The Scot fought back to reduce the tally. However, Klizan held serve easily to lead 4 to 2. Each player held serve with Klizan leading 5 to 3.

Murray dropped only one point in taking the ninth game. The first set hung on Klizan’s racquet. Although he took the frist point, he lost the next three to concede the break. Murray held to lead 6 to 5 but Klizan also won his serve and the set went to a tiebreak. Murray took his first point. Klizan held his two service points and proceeded to break the Scot two times for the set.

Murray broke Klizan’s serve in the fifth and seventh games and clinched the second set 6 to 2. With the confidence gained, Murray broke Klizan in the first game of the third set and repeated the feat in the fifth for a commanding lead and the set by the score of six games to two.

In the fourth set, Klizan won the opening game on his serve. Serving to level, Murray was behind 15 to 30, and faced a break point at 30 to 40 but he won the point to deuce. This time, Klizan broke the pattern and won the second game. The lanky man from Bratislava was not to be ruled out yet. Serving to extend the lead, he lost two game points and was forced to deuce. Murray lost two consecutive advantage points but when Klizan had one, he held on to extend his lead by three games to none.

The world number one player battled to close the gap; he won his service game but Klizan held on for 4 to 1 and also 5 to 2. Murray won the eighth game and broke Klizan for the ninth game. He faced set points but battled to level five games apiece. Klizan was taken to deuce in the 11th game but held on to lead 6to 5. Murray held his serve to take set into a tiebreak. He also won four of the frist six points. After the change over, Murray took one of his opponent’s services points and held his own to win by seven points to points.

The third seeded Stan Warwinka powered his way through in straight sets over the free-swinging talented Ukrainian, Alexandr Dolgopolov. The former champion secured the frist set on a single break of serve. The second set was a seesaw with both players holding serves leading to a tiebreak. Warwinka won a close battle with seven points to five. With games tied at five-all of the third set, Warwinka lost a break point but succeeded in holding the next opportunity for a 6 to 5 lead.

Serving for the set, Warwinka lost the first point but leveled at 30-all. There was a prolonged rally, which went in favour of the server. At match point, the Swiss star delivered a hard serve that placed him on offensive and earned the game point. The final score of 6/4; 7/6; 7/5 was an impressive performance by the colourful 89th ranked player in the world.

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