Murray survives scare to see off plucky Kendrick
Andy Murray was far from his best today
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Tuesday, 23, Jun 2009 10:04
By James Christie.
Andy Murray acknowledged that he had been given a tough match after beating journeyman American player Robby Kendrick to progress to the second round of Wimbledon.
The 7-5 6-7 6-3 6-4 score line was a fair reflection of just how unexpectedly close the contest was though all seemed well early on as Murray won the opening two games at knock-up pace.
But the 29-year-old Californian quickly regrouped and it was he who next broke serve - a double fault from the Scot levelling the set at 4-4.
The crisis was far from over - but for a successful challenge against a faulty line call Murray would have faced three set points at 4-5 down.
Kendrick, the world's number 76, was by now enjoying much success by putting his full body weight behind his impressive forehand but he overcooked one at 5-5 to award Murray a second break.
There were relieved cheers which greeted Murray holding serve to win the first set 7-5 but the sight of Kendrick skipping to his chair after game-clinching aces became a familiar sight in the second set as serves were held until 6-6.
Kendrick's continuing success with his open-shouldered forehand made him the slight favourite going into the tie break.
Murray again double-faulted at 3-3 to hand a mini-break to Kendrick, who did not hold back on set point three rallies later - another whipped forehand down the line off a finely-angled Murray serve deservedly making it one-set all.
Murray's body language was by now betraying understandable nerves. The previous set had seen him involved in an exchange of words with the umpire over how long he had to challenge line calls - though for once the official seemed more annoyed about the conversation than the player was.
An unexpected act of charity in the form of two rare Kendrick double faults gave the Dunblane-born player the crucial first break of the third set and a handy 4-2 lead which he was in no mood to waste, showing some sweet touches at the net to close out the set 6-3.
The fourth set saw Murray finally begin to dominate the play. Kendrick survived a break point when serving at 1-1 but could not repeat the feat at 2-2, Murray moving him around the court with ease before passing his tiring opponent to engineer the break.
It was to prove decisive and Kendrick at times seemed only capable of prolonging the match by getting involved in a surreal running debate with the umpire about the pressure of the balls being used.
The pressure of clawing back the break proved too much for him as he put a forehand long to lose the set 6-4 but he can be content to have raised some serious questions about Murray's title-winning credentials.
The Scot's consistent serving in the second half of the match is one positive he can take from the game - but he will know that there is much room for improvement if he is to justify his number two seeding.