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PARIS: Roger Federer lost in the first round of a tournament for the
first time in three-and-a-half years when he was beaten by Andy
Murray, the 20-year old Briton who was a revelation with his cool
attitude and his counter-attack.
The unseeded player’s 6-7 (6-8), 6-3, 6-5 win
means that the world’s number one has not yet won a tournament
this year, having lost in the semifinals of the Australian Open to
Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
He lost the last time he played Murray too, 19
months ago in Cincinnati, when he could claim he was tired from his
previous week’s efforts.
This time, there was no such explanation, though
Federer is short of match play, and when the match got tight was not
able to unleash his customary ability to produce overwhelming
tennis.
“It was nothing to do with his game,”
insisted Federer.
“It was a tricky game for both of us. One of
the big guys had to go out.
“It’s difficult but it could have been
worse. It wasn’t a bad match but that’s the only positive I can
take from tonight.
“I thought I was missing forehands by two or
three meters. That’s awful. You have it lined up and suddenly
it’s out which comes as a shock.”
The first set saw both men hold solidly all
through, Murray serving more aggressively but more often resorting
to containment in the rallies, Federer serving more consistently
well. But by the tie-breaker Murray was suddenly more assertive.
It hinged on 3 points. Murray had reached 5-2
with one mini-break and then had two chances - one good, one slight
- to break again.
The first he netted an attacking return; the
second he just got back but couldn’t make pass.
Federer broke back at once, and held serve,
saving a set point at six points all with a fine first serve winner.
When Federer gained his first set point, at 7-6
on Murray’s serve he came up with a typical forehand attack, taken
athletically from the backhand side, which surprised Murray.
Most people expected Federer to take charge from
then on, but it didn’t happen.
“I don’t know if it was my game style which
won the match,” Murray said. “I think it was my mentality. I
went on court thinking I could win, as I always have against him,
and that was the key.”
Murray next plays Fernando Verdasco, the world
number 30 from Spain, whose left-handed skills accounted for Rainer
Schuttler, the former world number four from Germany, 7-6 (9-7),
4-6, 6-1
Other winners were David Ferrer over Tommy Haas,
6-3, 6-0; Richard Gasquet over Dmitry Tursonov, 6-4, 6-4; and
Nikolay Davydenko over Mohammed Gareeb, 6-4, 6-0.
-- AFP
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