US Open 2014: Andy Murray v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – as it happened

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2014/sep/01/andy-murray-jo-wilfried-tsonga-us-open

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5.16pm ET22:16

Well, Andy Murray is through, and deservedly so, on balance. It was extremely hot and humid, and as Murray acknowledged, both players found it tough going. Not a classic, but Murray shaded it: he made fewer errors, and played the big points better. Disappointing for Tsonga, who never really got going, and who hit fewer big winners than we might have anticipated. Next up for Murray is Djokovic, who looked really good against Kohlschreiber, and who’ll present a far stiffer challenge. Should be a belter.

Thanks for reading. See you.

5.11pm ET22:11

Well, how about that. After two hours and thirty-five minutes, Andy Murray is through to the last eight.

He’s just spoken to Mary Joe Fernandez:

Yeah, it was extremely tough conditions. Very humid. The first two sets were long and mentally quite draining, so I was glad to get through.

The first set was tougher, but when I got the hold from two breaks down in the third set, I felt the momentum was with me, and thankfully he missed a few serves at the end.”

He’ll play Novak Djokovic in the next round. Thoughts?

Yeah, a tough match. We’ve had a lot of long ones, and we played a long one here a few years ago, so I hope we can play another top-level match. It’s going to be very hard but I hope I have a chance.

5.07pm ET22:07

Andy Murray wins 7-5 7-5 6-4!

Tsonga 5-7 5-7 4-6 Murray

I should have mentioned earlier, but the winner will definitely play Novak Djokovic, who beat Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-1 7-5 6-4 earlier. But Tsonga begins with a double fault! Huge chance for Murray to finish the match early here. And now 0-30 with another double fault! Incredible. Big problems here for Tsonga.

And Murray has three match points with a beautiful backhand pass! Tsonga comes back by showing some acrobatic skills on a forehand smash, but then is deep on the next point, and that’s game, set and match! Andy Murray wins! He’s beaten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and will play Novak Djokovic in the last eight.

5.01pm ET22:01

Tsonga* 5-7 5-7 4-5 Murray

Tsonga goes long for 15-0. That’s 40 unforced errors from his already. Murray has 18. Is that the story of the match? Murray puts away a return from Tsonga that was way too short, and it’s 30-0.

And 41 unforced errors! Now it’s Tsonga’s time to show some frustration. He’s trying to win points too early; Murray’s happy to stay with him and wait for the mistake. Murray doesn’t do enough with the court gaping, and it’s 40-15, but he finds an ace to finish the game, and now Tsonga must serve to stay in the match.

4.58pm ET21:58

Tsonga 5-7 5-7 4-4 Murray*

This match has been really fascinating. Maybe the quality hasn’t been super super high, but it’s been great to watch these little subplots and momentum shifts.

Murray hits a nice winner on the backhand for 0-15; Tsonga responds. And then Murray hits the net with a back-court backhand, during a rally he was in control of. Frustrating. Murray’s next return is long, and Tsonga goes up 40-15. He’s settled, somewhat, Tsonga, and a quick hold makes it four apiece. It’s exciting!

4.55pm ET21:55

Tsonga* 5-7 5-7 3-4 Murray

Two big Murray serves, and it’s 30-0. He’s picked on Tsonga’s forehand on his first serves, going right on the chalk of the T. Then Tsonga is long with his return again. Three game points for Murray, and he finishes the game with a classical drop volley, all soft hands and touch and feel. The kind of shot Murray plays well when he’s feeling good, and not so well when he’s out of sorts. Easy hold for the Scot.

4.52pm ET21:52

Tsonga 5-7 5-7 3-3 Murray*

Oh my word! What an incredible shot! This is just too good. Murray’s in the zone. Running full speed, Murray winds up and finds a quite brilliant cross-court forehand winner. 0-15. And now 0-30! This momentum shift has come so quickly. What’s happened to Tsonga?

That was better. A full-force forehand down the line, having Murray scrambling, and the Scot can’t make the return. Then Murray misses an easy forehand, and we’re 30-30. A big serve from Tsonga, and then Murray’s backhand drifts wide from mid-court. Game Tsonga.

What an important response that was. Tsonga at 0-30 looked in serious trouble.

4.49pm ET21:49

Tsonga* 5-7 5-7 2-3 Murray

That’s six eight straight points that Murray has won, to move to 30-0, but Tsonga’s two-handed backhand winner is a thing of beauty, like an arrow down the line. 30-15. But anything Tsonga can do, Murray can match – 40-15 with a beautiful ace. And another! Murray ahead 3-2.

This match is really watchable. Tsonga was totally on top in this set, but from nowhere, Murray’s ahead, and Tsonga must hold here if he’s to stay in the tournament. A vital game.

4.46pm ET21:46

Tsonga 5-7 5-7 2-2 Murray*

This match is so turbulent. Both players look to be really struggling in this heat. They’re sweating buckets. And Tsonga looked to be in control in this set, but suddenly it’s 0-30, and then Murray finds a two-handed backhand pass that Tsonga can only hit into the net. Incredible! And then Tsonga is well wide! Murray’s level again. Amazing! That game was over so quickly.

Updated at 4.46pm ET

4.43pm ET21:43

Tsonga* 5-7 5-7 2-1 Murray

Murray’s been really sluggish so far, but then finds some magic from somewhere, flipping one from the baseline, using soft hands, for a winner. 15-15. He wins the next point but then gives Tsonga a freebie with a flabby forehand that missed left.

And now Tsonga is 30-40 again. Big chance here, but Murray saves it! It’s deuce.

And another deuce! And another! This game has really swung each way – Tsonga misses another break point at deuce number four, but then Murray can’t finish it. It’s as if they want to give it to each other.

Sixth deuce! Tsonga has a chance for a passing winner, but fires wide. And then Murray finally takes game point. An important win for Murray: you got the sense that if Tsonga had won that game, things might have started to swing decisively towards the Frenchman.

4.34pm ET21:34

Tsonga 5-7 5-7 2-0 Murray*

Murray’s requesting his towel more and more. He looks flat, and his body language suggests he’s not happy.

Tsonga consolidates his break, and leads 2-0.

4.32pm ET21:32

Tsonga* 5-7 5-7 1-0 Murray (*denotes next server)

Tsonga must be so frustrated. He really came out strong in that set, and Murray looked like he was struggling physically, but he allowed Murray to break back, and then produced errors at inopportune times. Tsonga hit 18 winners in that second set, but made 14 unforced errors – seven more than Murray. Can he come back from two down?

But Murray starts sloppily here, allowing Tsonga to gain a foothold. And then he misses his first service at 30-40! The second serve is moderate, and Tsonga breaks back immediately!

4.23pm ET21:23

Murray wins the second set 7-5!

Tsonga 5-7 5-7 0-0 Murray* (*denotes next server)

Tsonga is long, and it’s 0-15. He ties it up, and then he’s long again! Two crass errors. He’s made too many, but then winds up a huge serve to get back to 30-30. Murray then does brilliantly to stay in the point, moving left and right, but Tsonga has too much power.

And Murray pulls up. Is it cramp? He’s OK to continue, but he looks in pain. What a shot, though! A backhand down the line, right on the chalk. Deuce.

And deuce again. Murray looks really down, his head bowed, but he keeps producing winners. And then Tsonga misses a straightforward backhand! Amazing. Set point to the Scot – which he takes!! Murray leads two sets to love!

4.16pm ET21:16

Tsonga *5-7 5-6 Murray (*denotes next server)

A good serve from Murray draws him level at 15-15. And then a nice back-court rally ends with Tsonga hitting the net. Amelie Mauresmo, in the stand, gives Andy the thumbs-up.

But Tsonga hits back for 30-30, and then what a point! Murray was in control, but played a sloppy forehand which gave Tsonga a chance to pass him. But Murray’s elastic at the net, and stretches brilliantly to win a really important point. That was great play. Game Murray.

Updated at 4.16pm ET

4.10pm ET21:10

Tsonga 5-7 5-5 Murray* (*denotes next server)

Tsonga’s ditched his hat. He moves to 30-0, but then tosses in a double fault, his third. 30-15. But then Murray stayed back on Tsonga’s second serve, and then the Frenchman finishes the game confidently. Five-all.

Updated at 4.16pm ET

4.08pm ET21:08

Tsonga* 5-7 4-5 Murray (*denotes next server)

Murray’s back in the groove now. A service game to love, and this is a real chance to snatch the second set. Tsonga, who was upping his level significantly, has started making errors, and his second serve percentage is just 53%. He needs to get these first serves in.

Updated at 4.08pm ET

4.07pm ET21:07

4.03pm ET21:03

Murray breaks back!

Tsonga 5-7 4-4 Murray* (*denotes next server)

Whoa. A formidable forehand winner, off balance, from Tsonga, makes it 15-15. “He’s capable of hitting shots that are jaw-dropping,” says Jim Courier. Tsonga then plays a drop shot that gives Murray time to put it away, only to hit the net. Is he moving OK? Much better with the overhead volley that time, though. 30-30.

Tsonga has a chance to win the game, but his forehand is long, and we’re at deuce. It’s been a feature of Tsonga’s service games. Tsonga plays a poor drop shot, and then a wild forehand, and another break for Murray!

Ha. Just an 125mph ace. Deuce number three. But what a backhand winner from Murray! Another chance! And this time he takes it!

3.56pm ET20:56

Tsonga* 5-7 4-3 Murray (*denotes next server)

Murray’s using his drop shot increasingly often: probably a good tactic in the heat. Tsonga takes Murray to 40-30, but the Scot produces a forehand winner of rare quality. Game Murray.

3.51pm ET20:51

Tsonga 5-7 4-2 *Murray (*denotes next server)

It’s been a good game, really positive, but it’s worth noting that Tsonga has made 22 unforced errors so far; Murray just nine. What did we say earlier? But Tsonga looks more comfortable executing his shots in this set, and moves to 30-0 with little fuss.

But here’s the shot of the match, and it’s 30-30: Murray has Tsonga coming forward, and then with a beautifully disguised lob that lands well inside the baseline. And then a double fault! What a time to throw in one of those. Break point Murray …

… but he can’t make it count. However, the next point is excellent: he steps inside for Tsonga’s second serve, and finishes the point with a lovely, soft, cushioned backhand volley. But Tsonga saves again! A big forehand. Brutal. Followed by a big serve. And another. Hold Tsonga. Just.

Updated at 3.52pm ET

3.45pm ET20:45

Tsonga* 5-7 3-2 Murray (*denotes next server)

Tsonga’s ground strokes have been much more decisive in this set. But Murray shows he’s got some firepower, too, and moves Tsonga around for 15-0. Both players trade unforced errors, and we’re 30-30. McEnroe suggests Murray’s level has dropped, but then he plays a nice, controlled forehand that has Tsonga scrambling. 40-30. And then Tsonga’s return on Murray’s second serve is weird, like it stopped on him or something. Murray holds. He needed that.

3.41pm ET20:41

Tsonga 5-7 3-1 *Murray (*denotes next server)

Boom. What an ace to start the fourth game! 129mph, and though Murray challenges, it was in. Murray draws level at 15-15, but Tsonga picks up a half-volley beautifully to go to 30-15. He’s been much more aggressive in his shot-making in this set, and hits another winner for 40-15. Murray returns a second set into the net. Three-one. Tsonga’s on it!

Updated at 3.56pm ET

3.37pm ET20:37

Tsonga breaks

Tsonga* 5-7 2-1 Murray (*denotes next server)

Murray has won 11 from 11 at the net, but Tsonga’s getting into his stride, and has a chance at 30-30. But Murray produces a beautiful, elastic forehand that Tsonga can’t return, and it’s 40-30. He then misses his cross-court winner, though, and it’s deuce. Chance for Tsonga?

Oh, what a rally! Tsonga has control, and sends Murray scrambling. His lobbed return looks like it might sneak in, but it’s long, and Tsonga has his first break point of the match. Which he takes! Murray’s drop shot into the net is too tentative, and Tsonga, who has really come out hard in this second set, nudges ahead.

Updated at 4.04pm ET

3.33pm ET20:33

Tsonga 5-7 1-1 *Murray (*denotes next server)

Tsonga looks to be moving up a gear. He hit two blistering winners in that first service game, and held with relative ease this time. Was it nerves first time around? Or the humidity? It’s about 86F, but McEnroe made the point that “it feels like 100%”. It’s really muggy and warm.

Updated at 3.38pm ET

3.28pm ET20:28

Tsonga* 5-7 0-1 Murray (*denotes next server)

A wild forehand from Tsonga. “That’s a crazy, crazy swing,” opines John McEnroe on TV. Murray looks to be in control of the rally at 30-15, but Tsonga produces a beautiful backhand winner to make it 30-30. Murray, though, controls the point from a big second service, going to 40-30, and is able to hold. Good start.

John McEnerney makes a good point:

As we all know, Tsonga has the game and physique to be a contender but it’s lapses in concentration and timing that have been his biggest rivals. Andy has those lapses too, but less and less in the last two to three years, basically when Lendl came on board. How important was he for Murray?

Updated at 4.00pm ET

3.23pm ET20:23

Murray wins the first set 7-5!

Tsonga 5-7 0-0 *Murray (*denotes next server)

It’s taken a while, but Murray is able to make his dominance count. A couple of unforced from Tsonga give Murray two set points. Tsonga saves the first with sweet backhand, but Murray takes his second with a lovely caressed volley.

Murray takes the first set. He’s played really well.

Updated at 3.33pm ET

3.18pm ET20:18

Tsonga *5-6 Murray (*denotes next server)

Murray goes to 30-0 after Tsonga can’t make two returns count. He’s served nearly flawlessly this first set, has the Scot, and has earned a bunch of free points. Hold to love.

3.15pm ET20:15