By Erik Gudris | Monday, March 10, 2014
"Winning Ugly" continues to be a mantra for players in the men's draw as Andy Murray somehow got past Jiri Vesely with a ragged three set win in Indian Wells.
Photo Credit: AP
While sports features many notable sayings, the phrase "Winning Ugly" first coined by Brad Gilbert seems the best way to sum up this year's men's event so far at the BNP Paribas Open.
Ugly would probably be the best way to describe the third round meeting between No. 5 seed Andy Murray and Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic.
Though a former junior No.1, Vesely appeared on the verge of being overwhelmed when Murray jumped out to a double break lead in the opening set. That didn't happen though as Murray failed to keep his advantage and soon found himself in a tiebreak. Vesely rolled ahead and, in a surprise, took the set 7-6(2).
Vesely, who earned an early break in the second set, kept up the pressure on a noticeably struggling Murray. But nerves, or just bad technique, or both, got the better of Vesely as he botched several makeable overheads late in the set. Murray reclaimed control and managed to break Vesely at set point with a drop shot that forced Vesely to hit a lob well long.
Murray, who looked on the brink of defeat, now found himself level at a set apiece.
Neither man could hold serve in the opening games of the final set until Vesely somehow did so to go up 3-1. Again, that would be a temporary advantage for the young Czech. Down a break point while serving up 4-3, Vesely tossed in a double fault that Murray celebrated with a fist pump.
Murray would hold for 5-4 and put the pressure back on Vesely who began to cramp. Vesely saved two match points against him. But with his legs fading after the nearly three hour battle, Vesely couldn't save a third when he netted a volley. Murray walked away with the 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4 win that again will raise questions of just how fit Murray is after his recent return from back surgery.
Federer Holds Off Tursunov in Two Tiebreaks
While No. 7 seed Roger Federer is known for making it look so easy on court, he didn't make it easy for himself against Russia's Dmitry Tursunov on Stadium 1. Federer would serve for the opening set at 5-4 but then found himself broken by the resourceful Russian.
A tense tiebreak ensued a few games later that went into extended games before Federer clinched it with a tremendous forehand passing shot. The second set again needed a tiebreak to resolve it, but Federer put on a more dominating performance in that one.
With an ace followed up by a huge forehand return, Federer jumped out to a 5-1 lead. From there, Federer coasted to a 7-6(7), 7-6(2) win.
Fognini Survives Two Match Points Against Monfils
What was billed as the match of the day proved anything but as Italy's Fabio Fognini squared off against France's Gael Monfils. While both are known for being showmen on the court, it took awhile for this match to get real fireworks going.
A flat start from Monfils allowed Fognini to cruise through the opening set 6-2. They reversed roles in the second set as Fognini's level dropped while Monfils improved just enough so he could force a decider.
Monfils started to put on more of show at the start of the third set after he climbed out to a 2-0 lead. An incredible backhand smash followed up by a no-look forehand passing shot that just missed appeared to indicate that Monfils would take control. But Fognini, despite dropping his racquet while serving at one point, hung around to get back on serve. Monfils would break again and serve for it at 5-4.
Though Monfils held two match points, he could not quite find the range on his deliveries. A double fault from Monfils would allow Fognini back in at 5-all. Fognini would seize the moment while up 6-5 by chasing down a drop shot to hit a clean winner. That gave the Italian triple match point for himself.
He only needed one as Monfils hit a forehand will wide to seal the 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 victory for Fognini in a match that featured 88 total unforced errors between both men.