MX23RW : Thursday, April 18 00:53:35| >> :600:342262308:342262308:

Live Commentary: Andy Murray vs. Nicolas Mahut - as it happened

Live coverage of the second-round match between Andy Murray and Nicolas Mahut at the Aegon Championships at Queen's that ends in a win for the Brit.
2

Andy Murray has sealed a place in the third round of the Aegon Championships at Queen's after beating Nicolas Mahut in straight sets.

The British number one had to wait overnight to finish his match against the Frenchman, having been disrupted by the rain yesterday.

The top seed faces Marikno Matosevic in the next round later this afternoon.

Read how all the action unfolded below:


Sort:
Newest
Oldest
Good afternoon! It's almost 24 hours since the second-round contest between Andy Murray and Nicolas Mahut got underway. The duo are expected back on court in the next few minutes.

It was a pretty frustrating day for both players yesterday. The top seed wrapped up the first set in less than 40 minutes, before a series of rain delays halted his progress. Over four hours after the match got underway, play was finally abandoned for the day. Fortunately, it's been dry all morning at the Queen's club, albeit a little chilly and breezy.

It will be a busy day for the winner of this match, as they will play their third-round match later this afternoon against Australia's Marinko Matosevic. That match is scheduled to be fifth on centre court today.

Murray and Mahut are out on court warming up before they get back underway. The Frenchman had looked dangerous early in the match, winning a lot of points from the net, but the British number one really found him rhythm towards the end of the first set, showing no signs of the back problem which kept him out of the French Open last month.

Murray played Mahut in the second round at last year's Aegon Championships, with the Frenchman getting the better of his higher-ranked opponent. Having not played since the Rome Masters, Murray will be keen to avoid a repeat result, and get some matches under his belt ahead of Wimbledon later this month.

The warm-ups are over and play is about to get underway, with Murray serving at 15-0 up in the fifth game of the second set.

Murray misses his opening serve, giving Mahut a chance to take the first point of today's pay. A couple of big serves leave the top seed in a strong position, but he mis-reads the blustery conditions around the court and fires two shots long to take the game to deuce. Mahut comes into the net and volleys the ball to the back of the court, helping him to his first break point of the match. A brilliant forehand down the right-hand side of the court saves the break for the Scot, before two poor returns from the world number 224 hand him the game. It's a nervous start for Murray, but he manages to hold serve.

Mahut opens his service game with a brilliant delivery, which Murray can only return to the net, but a stunning backhand to the sideline secures the next point for the top seed. The Brit misses a couple of returns to help Mahut to a 40-15 lead, but the Frenchman fires his forehand long while trying to wrap up the game. The Scot spots Mahut coming into the net to volley and tries to lob his forehand over the Frenchman, but he puts too much power behind the ball, and it goes long.

Murray seems to be struggling to get going today, hitting to forehands into the net, before a mis-timed drop shot gives the Frenchman two break points. The world number two saves the first with a superb cross-court forehand to the sideline, before taking the game to deuce with an ace down the centre line. Murray takes advantage with a well-weighted lob to the back of the court, which Mahut managed to get his racquet to, but could only hit the ball into the net, and seals the game with a mis-hit forehand, which just manages the catch the line. Somehow, Murray manages to avoid the break again.

Mahut comes into the net to volley, but Murray gets the return in. He attempts another volley but loses his footing, yet still manages to hit the ball back and win the point. An ace secures the Frenchman the second point, before a long return from Murray takes the game to 40-0. The Briton slices his backhand to the corner to keep himself in the game, but another ace from Mahut wraps up a fairly straight-forward hold of serve.

Murray loses the opening point after missing his first serve, but a series of impressive forehand shots lead Murray to a 40-15 lead before he seals the game with a backhand volley out wide. He finally seems to be getting into his stride today, and needs just one game to clinch the match.

Murray fires his opening return wide, but takes the second point of the game with a brilliant forehand down the sideline, which leaves Mahut diving in an attempt to make the return, but he can't stretch far enough. At 30-30, Mahut misses his first serve, but goes for it on his second serve, giving the ball too much power for Murray to make the return. The top seed tries another drop shot to take the game to deuce, but he hits the ball into the net instead.

Murray finally gets a drop shot back over the net. Mahut gets into the court in time to make the return, but Murray lobs it over his head. The Scot tries to slice a forehand volley, with his opponent waiting at the net, but again he finds the net. A long return from Mahut, followed by a simple forehand winner from Murray ensure another hold for the world number two. He'll get at least a tiebreak out of this second set.

Mahut makes a rare miss with a volley attempt, but redeems himself with a big serve on the next point. A mis-hit backhand from Murray hits the net, but a brilliant cross-court forehand keeps hims in the game, as Mahut is out of position at the net. The top seed works hard to keep himself in a lengthy rally with the Frenchman, but concedes the point when he smashes a forehand shot long. A superb winner to the back of the court takes the game to deuce. Murray plays a series of volleys from close in at the net, but Mahut manages to wrong-foot him, smashing the ball past the Scot before wrapping the game up with a sliced backhand. It's going to be a tiebreak!

Murray 1-0* Mahut

Murray 2-0* Mahut

Murray *2-1 Mahut

Murray *3-1 Mahut

Murray 3-2* Mahut

Murray 3-3* Mahut

Murray *3-4 Mahut

Murray *4-4 Mahut

Murray 5-4* Mahut

Murray 6-4* Mahut. It's match point for Murray

GAME, SET & MATCH! Murray 6-3 7-6[4] Mahut

It was a close tiebreaker, with Murray playing a number of superb shots from the baseline, but cancelling them out with a number of unforced errors, before eventually taking the match with a stunning cross-court backhand.

The British number one looked far from his best throughout his opening match at the Aegon Championships, but that's understandable given his recent absence through injury. He'll get another chance to find his form later today, when he comes back on court later this afternoon to face Marinko Matosevic in the third round.

That's all from this match, but stick around for reports and reaction from all the key contests at Queen's today. Thanks for joining me this lunchtime, good bye.

ID:88812: cacheID:88812:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:12854:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Andy Murray sits out during the match against Marcel Granollers during the Rome Masters on May 15, 2013
Read Next:
Play abandoned at Queen's
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!