Andy Murray in Rome

Andy Murray will make his bow in Rome tonight against one Xavier Malisse. This will be an interesting encounter as Malisse will go for his shots and anything slow and short will get the treatment. Malisse can sometimes misfire on his forehand. What I would like to see from Murray is some aggressive play and rip his forehand a bit more. Looking at the draw he could end up facing Melzer and Djokovic. I would like Murray to play with more freedom and not be so hard on himself if he starts to dip in a match. He needs to play with less pressure on himself.

well you didn't get your wish tonight legendkillar. As soon as Murray lost his serve he was berating himself. Returned well, backhand was in fine form and his court coverage as good as ever, but his serve was pretty mediocre IMO, and he's still inclined to missing too many forehands.

Still, he never really looked like losing, and Malisse is not an easy first match by any means. He'll now play the winner of Troicki and Starace, who I imagine will play some tie tomorrow (OP not out yet). I think Starace on clay at home could get past Troicki.

I did see the game MFC and I was frustrated with the way that Murray switched off and allowed the 2nd set to get away from him. Again first serve percentages are not good as it was 51%.

He really needs to up his game if he is to compete on clay.

Great performance from Murray today against Starace. I think if Murray continues that form on clay he will be a dark horse for the FO

Thought he looked very good today killar. Serve was good, movement was excellent, hit the ball well off both sides (particularly backhand) and touch around the net was lovely (didn't hesitate to move into the net either which was good to see).

Some terrific points, would make for some cracking highlights!

Dark horse for the French though? Still can't see past Nadal or Djokovic for that really. I can see Murray making the semis though...

Hey MFC,

I think he can go deep in the French Open. He has the game to unsettle players. But based on his form at the moment against Mayer, I don't think Andy could've played a worse set then that.

I'm with you on that legendkillar, that was one rubbish set of tennis...

What is frustrating me at the moment is that Murray is looking so unsettled on his serve. He needs to just calm down a bit and not panic and start running himself down. Another break. Maybe we shall see a more relaxed Murray service game.

lol at Murray finding it easier to break Mayer's serve than hold his own

A love service game. I fancy another break here

God I wish he would lay off playing so much short stuff!! He keeps letting Mayer in on his serve Grrrrrrr!!!!

Eventually holds, Mayer hasn't held for four service games, what's he got?

I think Murray will steam ahead. Mayer is struggling on serve, but Murray plays some awful stuff on his. He played a longer length on Mayers service game now and surprise surprise he wins the game. I wish he would play that length on his service game.

not enough, another comfortable break by Murray. He did say before the game that he thought Mayer's weakness was the serve and he'd look to target it...

If that is the case I don't know what went wrong in that first set

Murray in that game mixing the ridiculous - misses an easy forehand volley with the court gaping and Mayer having given up - with the sublime - a backhand winner down the line of sheer beauty - on his way to hold for 3-0. Well in the driving seat now.

I think legendkillar, that it took him a while to get used to Mayer's unorthodox game. Coupled with some pretty awful play of his own, and you get what happened in the first set...

We get it Andy, it's sunny. You DON'T need to miss every overhead to make your point. Holds pretty comfortably to lead 4-1, if he can stay focused he should close this out now...

Think Andy has it now in the bag. Mayer has gone off the boil.

Andy with a safe passage through to the semi's. Either Djokovic or Soderling. Either way he is going to have to up his game big time.

BBC finally calling Andy Murray Scotlands world number 4 after a win.

About time.

Murray come on!!

Been waiting for this all day Murray v Djokovic

Come on Murray. Well done on the break back.

Please stop with beating yourself up and using abusive language. You have a battle with Djokovic, you don't need to battle with yourself too.

Good stuff from both players

COME ON!!!!

GO ON!!!!!!

The boy is coming good here!!

Great hold Andy! Keep it going!

Come on Murray. Djokovic is looking slightly tired out there.

djoko has that skeleton face again

gallery play wrote:djoko has that skeleton face again

I thought that was Andy's mum