Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron LIVE: Latest updates from Stuttgart Open as Wimbledon preparation begins
Murray is back on court after early exits in the singles and doubles at the French Open
Andy Murray begins his grass court season at the Stuttgart Open as he kicks off his grass court season with an eye on performing strongly at Wimbledon.
Murray’s Wimbledon preparation could also be the start of a farewell as he has previously hinted at a possible retirement this summer meaning this could be his final season as a professional.
Today’s match is against Marcos Giron who will be a tough opponent for the 37-year-old with the American having climbed into the world’s top 50 this year.
Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu will be in action at the Nottingham Open. Raducanu missed the French Open to focus on her fitness ahead of the grass court season. She takes on Ena Shibahara as she continues her comeback following wrist and ankle operations last year.
Follow all the live action from Stuttgart and Nottingham in the blog below:
Emma Raducanu 6-1 4-1 Ena Shibahara
Raducanu is toying with Shibahara, feints to go down the line and then just rotates her hips opening up more of the court for a passing shot.
Another ace gives the Brit a 30-0 lead, her fourth of the match so far. She has the chance to hold to love, but a shot just drops beyond the baseline.
She does find a bit more power with a backhand down the line, and Shibahara doesn’t have an answer to it.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 3-1 Ena Shibahara
Shibahara serves and volleys to take the lead in the fourth game of the second set, it is clearly her comfort zone and it allows her to move 30-0 ahead.
She is a more experienced doubles than singles player, and she has a chance to win only her second game of the match with three game points, and she only needs one with a stunning serve down the centre line.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 3-0 Ena Shibahara
Raducanu’s baseline shots are just too strong for Shibahara and she hits it into the net again as Raducanu goes ahead, the next ball she goes for power and hits it beyond the baseline, 30-0.
A small mistake, and Shibahara claims just her seventh point against the Raducanu serve in this match, using her preferred tactic of attacking the net, but any inroad is cancelled out by a perfect forehand.
Raducanu takes the game.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 2-0 Ena Shibahara - BREAK
Shibahara is running out of ways to find a way back into this game, she takes the first point, but Raducanu hits back immediately at 15-all.
Raducanu attacks the second serve right into the baseline corner, and Shibahara cannot get the ball back over the net.
The British player sets up two more break points, the first one comes off the frame in the return and is saved, but Raducanu takes the second when a backhand drifts into the net.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 1-0 Ena Shibahara
Raducanu serves at the start of the second set after winning on her opponents serve and has just grown further into this game, taking a commanding 30-0 lead with a powerful forehand.
She sets up three game points, and then takes the game with a perfect ace down the middle. That was an ideal start to the second set for Raducanu.
Emma Raducanu 6-1 Ena Shibahara - SET
Raducanu plays a stunning cross-court winner with both players at the net, there’s a late call out before that, but she has the lead at 15-30.
The 21-year-old Brit is just growing into this game, she is almost on her knees playing the forehand but just looks so comfortable and she sets up two break and set points.
The first one Raducanu cannot capitalise on and she hits a forehand that just clips the top of the net and bounces back, but the next one she does take to comfortably take the first set.
Emma Raducanu 5-1 Ena Shibahara
Raducanu has been very impressive in this match and storms ahead on her serve to establish a healthy 40-15 lead and two game points.
Her serve proves too much for Shibahara who cannot get her return back into the court, and Raducanu extends her game advantage.
Emma Raducanu 4-1 Ena Shibahara - BREAK
Shibahara takes the first point in her serve, with the return going straight into the net, but Raducanu pulls it back to 30 all.
Shibahara has continued to go big on her second serve and moves to the brink of a hold with it, but the longer rallies seem to favour the Brit, and she produces a tidy return and follow to take the game to deuce.
The Japanese player fires into the net and Raducanu has another break point, which she takes with a stunning perfect backhand down the line.
Emma Raducanu 3-1 Ena Shibahara
Raducanu has not agreed with the umpire’s call on three or four occasions now, but she has to accept it and there are no reviews.
The Brit does move 30-15 into the lead when Shibahara’s return goes straight into the net, but it’s all level when Raducanu makes the same mistake deep behind the service line.
But from that point, Raducanu storms ahead to take the game and maintain her break advantage in these early stages of the first set.
Emma Raducanu 2-1 Ena Shibahara
Raducanu takes an early lead in the third game, as Shibaharu is caught out being slightly late to get to a serve and volley.
However, he next serve is hit back into the net by Raducanu to level the game at 30-30.
Shibahara goes for a slice, it’s called out,by the line judge but overruled by the chair umpire and Shibahara moves to within one point of her first game, which she takes when Raducanu hits one off the frame of the racket.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments