Andy Murray v Jakub Mensik LIVE: Qatar Open tennis result and reaction as Murray loses marathon match
The 36-year-old Brit went down in a three-set thriller to the big-serving, 18-year-old Czech star
Andy Murray suffered the narrowest of defeats in a marathon match in the last 16 of the Qatar Open as he went down 7-6 (6), 6-7 (3), 7-6 (4) to Jakub Mensik.
It was the longest match in tournament history at three hours and 23 minutes, with all three sets going to tiebreaks. Murray was on the brink of a heavier defeat when trailing 5-2 and a double break down in the final set but roared back to win four games on the spin and somehow force a tiebreak.
However, the 36-year-old Brit lost that decider 7-4 to the 18-year-old, big-serving Czech star who reaches an ATP Tour quarter-final for the very first time.
Murray had finally ended his six-match losing streak that stretched back to October of last year when he battled past Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-6 (5) in the first round on Tuesday and was defiant last week in quelling retirement talk abut rising star Mensik held his nerve to record an impressive win.
Relive all the action from the Qatar Open below:
Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 6-6 (1-0) Jakub Mensik*
Long rally to open things up but Murray in control as he moves Mensik around the court and bangs a winner down
Murray 1-0 Mensik
*denotes next to serve
*Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 6-6 Jakub Mensik
Some shouts of frustration from Murray as Mensik moves to 40-0. “Awful shot” in amongst it from the Brit. But fair play to Mensik, pulls out another forehand winner and he’s won the game to love. Sublime.
Only right that this goes to a final-set tiebreak, really.
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 6-5 Jakub Mensik*
From 5-2 down, Murray has produced tennis from the gods. Some of his best stuff post-hip surgery. How on earth does Mensik recover now?
That’s some start though! Goes aggressive and puts away a giant forehand before a mammoth serve makes it 30-0
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 6-5 Jakub Mensik*
Murray wins the point for 30-30. He can’t afford to lose this game after all the work he’s put in... Mensik goes long and it’s 40-30.
And Murray wins the game to 30 with an ace. Suddenly Mensik is serving to stay in the match, having twice failed to serve it out. WOW! What a turnaround from 5-2...
*denotes next to serve
*Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 5-5 Jakub Mensik
At 5-2 down with Mensik serving, Murray was out of this match but, as he’s done for his whole career, he’s dug deep and got both breaks back. All the momentum with Murray now and Mensik is reeling.
A simple put-away to make it 15-0 but Mensik hits back with two points of his own. 15-30.
This is now the longest match in Qatar Open history as we go past the 3hr 9min mark... Classic Murray
*denotes next to serve
*Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 5-5 Jakub Mensik - MURRAY BREAKS BACK AGAIN TO KEEP THE MATCH ALIVE
A long rally follows on point three but it’s Murray on top again! He’s got three break points as Mensik hits the net!
Still no first serve from the Czech and Murray marmalises a backhand return. The Czech gets back in the point but Murray into the net and puts away a forehand. He gets the second break back!
ANDY MURRAY HAS GOT A DOUBLE BREAK BACK.
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 4-5 Jakub Mensik*
Murray is battling hard! Immediaely 0-15 as a forehand pass is too strong for Mensik. A world-class return on the next point when he gets a look at a second serve. It’s 0-30! Mensik badly needs a first serve
*denotes next to serve
WATCH: Mensik earns double break with exquisite get
Here’s how Mensik earned the double break. And that has proved important after he failed to serve out the match at the first time of asking
Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 4-5 Jakub Mensik*
An unreturned serve for 40-0 and although Mensik wins one point, Murray sees out the game for a hold. Big pressure on Mensik now as he tries to serve out the match following this changeover.
*denotes next to serve
*Andy Murray 6-7, 7-6, 3-5 Jakub Mensik
All Murray can do here is hold serve and force Mensik to serve it out again, knowing he’s already failed once. Some crunching groundstrokes and he moves into a 30-0 lead.
The match passes the three-hour mark. Murray wants it to go on for a little longer yet.
*denotes next to serve
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments