Andy Murray d. Radek Stepanek 3-6, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5/1R/Roland Garros
Andy Murray d. Mathias Bourgue 6-2, 2-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3/2R/Roland Garros
For the first 10 years of his career, Andy Murraywon close to 70 per cent of his matches on clay, posting an 88-39 record (.693). But ahead of Roland Garros, the Briton had gone 29-3 (.906) on the red dirt during the past 12 months. With silverware from the Internazionali BNL d’Italia title and a runner-up finish at the Mutua Madrid Open on his mantelpiece at home, Murray began his ninth quest in Paris as joint title favourite with Novak Djokovic.
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World No. 2 Murray’s surge to becoming a Roland Garros title contender had stemmed from better movement on the crushed brick. But over seven hours, in the first two rounds in the south-west corner of Paris, 37-year-old Radek Stepanek and wild card Mathias Bourgue, No. 164 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, caused all manner of problems.
Murray trailed Stepanek by two sets to one when play was suspended due to bad light. The Scot then endured a terrific fight against the oldest player in the draw to avoid his 2006 fate at Roland Garros – a first-round exit. It was Murray’s ninth 0-2 sets comeback. He had been two points from defeat at 4-5 deuce in the deciding set.
The following day, it was the turn of wild card Bourgue to put the frighteners on Murray, who led 6-2, 2-0 only to see his game collapse in spectacular fashion. Bourgue, who had not played a tour-level match prior to his Grand Slam debut and was facing a Top 50 player for the first time, won eight straight games – including 16 unanswered points.
Bourgue had three opportunities to break Murray’s serve in the first game of the fourth set, but his fitness began to fail him. Murray finally clinched victory in three hours and 34 minutes. “I'd been waiting for this for a long time, that's what I play tennis for. I'm happy even if I lost,” said Bourgue. “It will remain a great memory.” Murray had now won 10 of his past 11 five-set matches.
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