Murray wins, Gulbis Loses in Los Angeles
Andy Murray scored a 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 win over Tim Smyczek to advance to the quarterfinals of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles.
During the opening set, Murray dropped just two points on serve and stormed past his opponent.
The Scott crushing game was gone in the second set and was broken three times. Murray was broken also once in the third set but was able to break Smyczek three times to take the win.
"The first set was good and I started the second set with chances," said Murray. "I was struggling a little bit with my movement, when I got stiff and sore. But I managed to find a way to win."
“Tonight was a very good match with a lot of long rallies, especially in the first two sets,” the Scot said. “It was a good standard and hopefully it will stand me in good stead.”
"The top of my right hip and lower back was stiff. It isn't an injury, just on one of the changeovers my muscles started hurting. The last few changeovers I was standing up – something I have never done on tour before. I was stiff, maybe because it was cool this evening. It’s the first time I have played since Wimbledon. Hopefully I will be okay tomorrow"
Murray will next play against Alejandro Falla, who beat Ernests Gulbis 3-6, 6-4, 7-6.
Gulbis appeared to have the match in control went he went 3-0 up in the third set but he then lost three successive games for Falla to level. The Colombian needed five match points before clinching the tiebreak 10-8.
“I played really well in the last set,” Falla said. “We were both tired … and I am really happy to get through.”
Gulbis looked very upset with himself and showed his hot temper, something that helped Falla.
“It helped me a lot. He gave me a few chances and I got them. He was playing great and serving unbelievable. I was just trying to be aggressive from the baseline because he was always dominating the point.” the Colombian said.
Gulbis felt he had paid the price for his recent inactivity due to injury.
“If you don’t fish for two months, maybe you don’t fish too well,” he commented. “I was so tired. It was really tough for me to go for long rallies. I was trying to make the points shorter and couldn’t make any winners. I was running like a Spanish claycourt player. This was a joke.”
Source Ap/ATP/Reuters
Photo Credit should Read /AFP/Getty Images
