Cincinnati Open Andy Murray beats Frances Tiafoe to reach R2
WhatsApp Image 2020 08 23 at 12.34.29 AM
MATCH SUMMARY
A phenomenal match of tennis filled with aces and winners. The two put up a great show for the tennis fans. Andy Murray was dominant as he won the first set in the tie break. Tiafoe had a hard time matching the Brit’s gameplay.
The second set went out of Murray’s hands when Tiafoe broke him. The American won 6-3 and continued his momentum in the third set’s beginning.
The final set saw Andy Murray step up and avenge the break from the previous set. He ultimately broke Tiafoe’s serve at his first serve game in the final set. He went ahead to win 6-1.
Beautiful, great shot by Murray as he leads with three match points. GAME SET MATCH Andy Murray
Andy Murray is serving for the match. He starts of well and BOOM another ace down the line. Murray leads 30-0
Murray gets another break point will he able to break the serve of the American. Game score 30-40 as Murray leads. GAME to Murray after Tiafoe is unable to pick Andy’s return. Murray LEADS 5-1
Murray begins to see the end line. But Tiafoe will keep on fighting. The American serves to remain in the match. GAME SCORE- 30-30
Another gutsy hold for Murray as Tiafoe hits the ball outside. GAME Murray. MURRAY LEADS 4-1.
Murray hits a down the line ace to equal scores. 30-30. He would not want a break of his serve. Another big serve. Andy leads 40-30
Murray serves. He loses the first and the second point trailing 0-30. Tiafoe misses a down the line backhand in the net . 15-30
Now, Murray is cruising with triple break points and GAME. MURRAY LEADS 3-1
Frances Tiafoe serves trailing 0-3 in the final set. He will still try to hold and begins the game with wining the first point.
The deciding set is dominating by the Brit as he has a handsome lead 3-0. Tiafoe will have to break Murray if he needs a chance to win this match.
As Murray serves he leads 30-15, Frances just missed another short ball to give lead to the Brit.
The next for Tiafoe, 30-40 he trails on his serve. A long exhausting rally and Tiafoe hits a drive volley outside the court. He succumbs to pressure and loses his serve game. MURRAY LEADS 2-0
Tiafoe starts to serve and Murray gets the first point. The Brit would like to avenge the break on the last set. Another unforced error by Tiafoe, he trails 0-30 on his serve. And another point for Murray. 0-40. He has to grab this opportunity and break.
Murray is serving with a 40-30 lead . He starts the maiden game of the third set serving to hold. He leads 1-0
SET 3 Another part of the court has the PRIDE posters to show the support of USTA with the LGBTQ+ Community. Murray starts the final set
Tiafoe is serving to seal the set. Andy is eager for a break. He wins the first point of the game but goes down 30-15. Tiafoe is gaining confidence and leads 40-15 with a winner. He is ready with a second set point. GAME. TIAFOE WINS THE SET 6-3
BOOOOM Tiafoe blasts the serve of the Brit and garners his first breakpoint. 30-40. Murray serves to hold, a long rally followed by a drop shot Andy cannot reach to. Brit is broken. Tiafoe leads 5-3. He waited for almost 2 hours for this break.
Murray misses another ball on the net as he approached for an attack. Murray is trailing on his serve 15-30 and Tiafoe is gaining momentum. 30-30 as Tiafoe is trying to break Andy’s serve.
The changeover and Tiafoe drops the bottle of water his team gave him for the break. He smiles, as the water bottle has dropped from his hand and the water has spilt on the court. The Chair umpire asserts “We’ll take care of it.”
Tiafoe wins another point thanks to Murray’s stroke right in the middle of the net. 40-15. The Brit is incapable to return the next ball. GAME TIAFOE 4-3.
Tiafoe leads 30-0 due to an unforced error by Murray, but he gains the next point. 30-15
Tiafoe starts with a winner. Leads 15-0. The clock shows 1hr 43 minutes of play already. Time for a racket change for Murray as he looks through his kit for a racket, Tiafoe walks up and down the court impatiently.
Triple Break point for Murray. It is only getting harder for the 22-year-old American. GAME. MURRAY 3-3
Murray on his serve leads 15-0 and a backhand return by Tiafoe at the bottom of the net. Is he already impatient ? 30-0
It is 40-30 now as the Brit is about to play the first breakpoint. BOOM a big serve takes away the opportunity from Murray to break. Deuce. As Frances is ready to serve another disruption from the crowd. A big serve as Tiafoe has the advantage. And GAME TIAFOE 3-2
A fist pump by Tiafoe accompanied by “YEAH” as he wins the point.
Frances Tiafoe has no option but to hold his serve to stay in the match. One weak serve and the Brit gets aggressive. Murray is doing exactly that in this game as he leads 30-15
A long rally interrupted by an out ball by Tiafoe, Brit has the Breakpoint. He does a second serve to win the point as Tiafoe hits another forehand outside the court. 2-2
Impressive tennis with very few dips in the concentration by players. Murray leads 30-15 only to lose the next point to a great return from Tiafoe. 30-30
Murray on his serve, starts the point and Tiafoe hits a forehand topspin to win the first point. Murray comes back with another big serve to make it 15-15
The court has posters of BLACK LIVES MATTER placed all across.
In the second set Tiafoe holds his serve yet again. He leads the set 2-1
Tiafoe serves and Murray makes the server move around the court, ultimately Tiafoe misses a shot on the run. 30-30
Winner!!! down the line forehand as Tiafoe begins to serve.
Murray wins the game with another wide serve Tiafoe cannot return. 1-1
Murray has double break points but Tiafoe wont let it be so easy for the Brit.
BOOM a big serve from the ad court down the line, and it is too good to be returned
OOPS, a ball aimed straight to Andy at the net, as he blocks it with the racket. Murray wins another point with a poor return from Tiafoe. 30-15
Tiafoe holds his serve as the players change sides. The stadium is unusually empty and the ball kids are wearing masks. Ready for serve: Murray
It’s been over an hour and the gentlemen are sweating it out on a sunny day in New York. Tiafoe leads the game 30-15
SET number 2 begins with Tiafoe serving
Tiafoe risks it and enters to volley, stunned!! a passing forehand down the line as Murray wins the tie-break from a set point down. 7-6.
Another unforced error as Murray leads 7-6.
Murray on the serve 6-6 set score, while tie break score is also 6-6. Another spectacular serve from Murray makes it 6-6.
Pressure builds up as Tiafoe hits another unforced error, Could the Brit take it from here 5-5. Big serve from Tiafoe makes him a step closer to the end of the tie break he leads 6-5 with a match point
Spectacular!!!!! a smash from Murray closes the gap. 5-4 as Tiafoe serves.
Murray trailing as Tiafoe leads 5-2. On his serve Murray wins a point as Tiafoe’s ball lands in the alley.
Murray at serve loses the first point but in the second point, Tiafoe’s unforced error is a gift to Murray. On his serve Tiafoe is able to win a point. At the change of sides, the American in the lead with 4-2.
Andy Murray is trailing in the tie-break 1-2. A minor interruption as a spectator’s movement distracted Andy.
The first set is a neck to neck as the players are adamant on holding their serve. The first set is a tie at present with 6-6 as the tie-break commences.
The thundering match between the American and the British player could go any side. As both, the players have not dropped a single service game. Moreover, with an abundance of drop shots and passing shots, the first set was an amazing maiden clash for the duo.
Andy Murray has been away from competitive tennis for a while. The Scot is aiming a successful return to the circuit with Western and Southern Open. He was the world no.3 before the hip injury that has drowned his ranking outside top 100.
Frances Tiafoe is world no. 81 at the moment and would love to break in the top 50. He has recently tasted victory at DraftKings All-American Team Cup exhibition game in July, against Sam Querrey. The American has not had a great ATP season losing majority of his matches and only two wins of the nine matches played.
Jagriti Choudhry
(329 Articles Published)