Brilliant Gonzalez crushes under-par Murray
Fernando Gonzalez knocks Andy Murray out of French Open
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Tuesday, 02, Jun 2009 09:44
Andy Murray has been knocked out of this year's French Open after losing his quarter-final to Chile's Fernando Gonzalez.
The third seed struggled to cope with the big-hitting South American throughout, especially after losing out in the first set in disappoiting fashion.
Murray briefly rallied in the second set - taking the first set off Gonzalez at this year's championships - to give his fans hope.
But the clay-court specialist showed his guile and grit to hand a comprehensive 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-4 defeat to the Scot and end his hopes of a second grand slam final.
Murray was under-pressure right from the start as he was forced to save four break points in his opening service game. The Scot managed to stay with Gonzalez until 3-4, but then crucially double-faulted at 30-30 on his serve as Gonzalez got the break.
The 12th seed, who pummelled a number of blistering forehand hand winners in the opening set, served out with ease.
Murray though regrouped in the second set and as Gonzalez started to make more mistakes, the British number one broke at 3-2 up on his way to taking the second set. But that was the best it got for Murray.
The world number three completely fell apart in the third set, winning only seven points as he was thrashed 6-0 as a pumped-up Gonzalez took a 2-1 lead.
The fourth set was closer, but it was the Chilean who came up with the great shots when it mattered. Gonzalez had a chance to break and take a 5-3 lead and that is exactly what he did with a bullet forehand winner down the line which was past Murray before he could even react.
Murray broke back in the very next game to give himself a glimmer of hope, but then lost his serve to gift Gonzalez the set and match.
Gonzalez will now play Robin Soderling in the semi-finals after he crushed Nikolay Davydenko 6-1 6-3 6-1. Murray meanwhile will now turn his attentions to preparing for Wimbledon after a successful run at Roland Garros, despite the defeat today.