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, 2-3 Jakub Mensik
Ah, Murray goes hunting for the lines with a forehand but it’s narrowly out. An inch to the right and he’d be looking at break point. Instead, Mensik can seal the game to 30 for the hold.
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 2-2 Jakub Mensik*
Deft from Murray with the drop shot – soft hands and a soft landing as the ball spins away from Mensik. He responds with brute force though, pumping an ace out wide.
Yet Murray clings on – thumping cross-court forehand and a put-away volley (not dissimilar to the one he missed on set point) for 30-30...
*denotes next to serve
WATCH: Murray angrily reacts to losing first set
Here was how Murray reacted to losing that first set in heartbreaking fashion. Fair to say he wasn’t happy...
Andy Murray 6-7, 2-2 Jakub Mensik*
Murray being pushed all the way by Mensik now and he forces deuce. Fist pump from the Brit as a big first serve brings up game point and Mensik is unable to return another hefty serve.
Good battling by the 36-year-old to stay on serve.
*denotes next to serve
*Andy Murray 6-7, 1-2 Jakub Mensik
Heavy ground strokes from Mensik to overpower Murray before a gorgeous, deft drop shot spins just over the net to seal the game. Great play by the Czech.
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 1-1 Jakub Mensik*
Murray goes for too much when he’s in control of a rally and nets a forehand himself for 30-30. But Mensik responds in kind and Murray has a break point.
Gets a look at a second serve but it’s a good, deep serve and Mensik saves it with a volley that clips the net going out of Murray’s reach. Mensik then produces a sublime lob! On the back foot, he throws it way up in the air, over Murray and it drops like a stone on to the baseline. Great shot!
But he goes long with the forehand on the next point, so we’re back to deuce.
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 1-1 Jakub Mensik*
Can Murray put some early pressure on the Mensik serve? The Czech may have pinched that first set at the death but Murray was gaining the momentum before that.
The mistakes are still coming from Mensik – he nets a mid-court forehand to make it 15-30.
*denotes next to serve
Andy Murray 6-7, 1-1 Jakub Mensik*
The crowd are trying to gee up Murray here. A good start to the game as he picks up a half-volley with the forehand to take the lead, then reads a Mensik drop shot and puts it away cross-court for 30-0.
Big serves help him win the game to 15. That’s a good, steadying hold after what has come before.
*denotes next to serve
*Andy Murray 6-7, 0-1 Jakub Mensik
Murray wins the opening point of the second set but Mensik steps up his level to race into a 40-15 lead. Murray thinks he’s forced deuce but Mensik’s passing shot catches the smallest sliver of the baseline, as confirmed by Hawkeye.
Murray dismayed but Mensik just about holds to start the second set.
*denotes next to serve
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments