French Open Day 3 - We like that Konjuh gal, right? Yes, unless she's on the Fritz, Busta.

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Schedule - http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/scores/schedule/index.html

Christ this is horrible!

5-5!
Surely that's going to be a let down for Stepanek now...

That was a nervy hold from Murray, but great serve to close it out there.

Murray will feel like a bird released now?
Even Courier feeling it lol

I reckon Step will lose 7-5 now.

Come on Murray!

0-30 on Stepanek serve - finally a couple of loose points from the Czech - big chance for Murray here.

What a BH from Step...
15-30...

15-40...game over...

Double fault!

Break!!! Had to be handed it tbh

Well there you have a gift from Step Andy... now use it

Oh that was a tame FH....6-5 Murray...game over.

BTW...Nadal has been and gone 61 61 61.

And Murray takes his chance. What's with the shouting at the player's box though - old habits never die eh...

At last Aus TV switches to the Murray match as the slaughter of Groth concludes.

Just in time to see Andy break ...

That FH has completely broken down...hasn't been the same since being 2 points from the match.

Tbf it's been a needle match from both, each playing a few mind games with the theatrics. That might explain why it's been this way

Step isn't going away yet

15-30

So this is it

Theim has turned his match around. 2 sets to 1 up

Blimey...DF @ MP...deuce...surely not?

Oh my goodness

Ohhh and that was almost a DF too...MP #2

Oh dear steps. You can't miss that

Job done. And he looks knackered...

And Murray finishes it off - great performance from Stepanek - one of the most entertaining players to watch, next up for Murray, a French wildcard - just what the doctor ordered.

Actually pleased to see Andy win but sad to see Step lose .. he didn't deserve to imo

Tbh...Steps probably would have flopped in the next round anyway...so better that Murray goes through but how much will this take out of the tank for the rest of the event given the fixtures may get more congested too.

Nadal, who played a day later, finished before murray. He needs to up his game, and have 3 easy matches or he's cooked come the latter stages

Well played Radek. What a character and played some great stuff - really great. Less so good from Murray but he stays afloat to fight another day.

Phew !

Murray wraps it up at the second match point - Stepanek made a couple of crucial errors late then but you have to give him a tonne of credit for pushing Andy all the way

Reckon that scare might be good for Murray in the end . Wake up call , etc - and split over two days probably not taking too much out of him. He'd like to win round two quickly though !

It was good from steps. Hard to admit given the heart attack he's given me, but very well played.

The anti murray brigade held off another day...

alfie wrote:Phew !

Murray wraps it up at the second match point - Stepanek made a couple of crucial errors late then but you have to give him a tonne of credit for pushing Andy all the way

Reckon that scare might be good for Murray in the end .  Wake up call , etc  - and split over two days probably not taking too much out of him. He'd like to win round two quickly though !

Totally agree.

Can anyone tell me did Groth play badly or did Rafa play exceptionally well

Hey Andy fans note please I missed Rafa playing to watch this match

Haddie-nuff wrote:Can anyone tell me did Groth play badly or did Rafa play exceptionally well

Hey Andy fans note please I missed Rafa playing to watch this match

Your welcome CC pleased for you

ON le matador. He's the one for whom in most worried might fall early, such s convincing first round start bodes very well

Feel a bit sorry for Stepanek, his level of play yesterday (apart from set 3) and today would have been enough to beat most players on tour. Murray had to grind hard to stay with him in the fifth, particularly serving second, but showed some good mental strength to do so, and eventually Stepanek got a bit tight. Great second serve at deuce in that last game, having just hit a DF.

Also, pretty sure the volley on MP was one of only about 2 or 3 Stepanek missed all match, just such good hands and understanding of the court when he's at the net, shows that there is still potential to play that type of all court tennis. Great effort from him

Murray will need to improve, obviously, though I don't think physically that will have taken too much out of him. Another comeback from two sets down to add to his locker

Ive just seen his tweener (hot dog) shot....ooooo what a blinder !!!!
Go Rafa

As 5 setters go, this won't have taken too much out of Murray physically - not full of gruelling long rallies, and other than the 5th set, each set was over fairly quickly.

On the bright side, Murray played the big points well at the business end of the 5th set, but a cause for concern that he allowed himself to get 2 sets down to Stepanek. Murray should have a much easier match in the 2nd round - hopefully he can regroup and tighten his game up in time for the 2nd week.

temporary21 wrote: The anti murray brigade held off another day...

I'm actually generally one of those (well...mildly) but thoroughly enjoyed the match

Actually had no idea of the result and found it out reading this thread. Quite tense reading! Was kind of like watching the match live at a very fast speed. Good commentary all, thanks, no need for me to read any match report now. The actual action was taking place while I was taking my kids to school, having a shower, getting breakfast etc. All done by the time I got to the computer.

I think long matches in R1 are rarely a problem for the really top guys, as long as he avoids another, it's soon be forgotten about. R3 onwards is where you want to spend less time on the court.

No you aren't lydian. You're on the critical side, that's very different

Now novak, don't make heavy work of thid please

I reckon if Nadal is anywhere near his best he wins at Roland Garros.  I just don't think he is anywhere near his best when it comes to a long tournament.  If he is, then good.

I hope "the British are coming" ... Murray has single handedly put Britain on the world tennis map - it would be nice if Edmund, Bedene, Konta, Watson can continue to progress.

It would have been "nice" if Stepanek had had been rewarded with a victory - but you know he would have been knocked out in the next round or so. Murray should improve from here to get into the second week and beyond.

Fair enough temp...re: critical, I don't think a lot was actually wrong with Murray...Stepanek played well and is a very talented player. Had he been born 20 years earlier I suspect he was have done a lot better with his flatter game and great volley game. But I'm actually glad Murray went through because these giant-killers always go out tamely in the next round...eg. Rosol, Darcis, Brown, Vesely.

Well NS...I'm sure Henman would have a thing or two to say about putting Britain on the tennis map. However yes Murray has had far more success since.

Hard to say with Rafa...he seems prone to anxiety these days (which is an extension of the OCD...) which can make his form fall off a cliff. If he can hold it together for the 2 weeks then he'll be tough to beat.

Never really heard of this 32yo guy Djokovic is playing but he's got some nice strokes.
Hard to see it going past 3 sets though...kind of processional feel to it.

Lu beat Murray at the Olympics in 2008, but hasn't really done anything else in his career. Nice enough player - albeit with one of the more annoying grunts - but nothing to separate him from the rest IMO. Bit of an odd set that, Djokovic breaking for 4-3, then bizarrely dropping his serve from 40-15 up, before breaking again from 40-0 down, and serving it out with no trouble. Topsy-turvy. Not been at his best Djokovic, but his return of serve is extraordinary.

Lu also beat Roddick at Wimbledon a few years ago.

Not seen any of Rafa v Groth, but the scoreline doesn't surprise me. Groth has been in quite rank form playing hardcourt challengers - losing to people ranked in the 400's - to come and play Rafa at RG wasn't ever going to be pretty.