A MURRAY (GB) v D HRBATY (Slo)

6-7 0-6

By Elizabeth Hudson

Second set:

Murray 6-7 0-5 Hrbaty
And so Murray's magnificent year comes to an end in a disappointing way as he nets a backhand to give Hrbaty victory. It wasn't one of Murray's best performances but Hrbaty showed grit and determination to set up a quarter-final meeting with defending champion Tomas Berdych.

Murray 6-7 0-5 Hrbaty
The victory line is getting closer for Hrbaty as he holds to love. Murray's spirit seems to be broken but he will want to hold serve at least once in the set.

Murray 6-7 0-4 Hrbaty
From 0-40 down and almost out, Murray stages a partial recovery to make it 30-40 but he cannot make it to deuce and Hrbaty is easing to victory.

Murray 6-7 0-3 Hrbaty
Hrbaty is well in control of this set after holding again, finishing off the game with an acrobatic overhead to leave Murray looking even more dejected. Could his spectacular 2006 season be about to end tonight?

Murray 6-7 0-2 Hrbaty
The Paris crowd are subdued after the tension of the first set and Murray is also a bit flat with some unforced errors and Hrbaty capitalises to break and win the game. Murray needs to refocus - and quickly.

Murray 6-7 0-1 Hrbaty
Buoyed by winning the opening set, Hrbaty holds comfortably to 15 and Murray needs to keep calm to avoid letting the match slip away from him.

First set:

Murray 6-7 Hrbaty
The unpredictable nature of the set continues through to the tie-break. Murray goes 5-3 ahead but it is Hrbaty who gets the first set point at 6-5. Murray saves that one. A marathon rally gives Hrbaty a 7-6 advantage and on his own serve he wraps up the set when Murray nets a tired-looking shot. The Slovak player will be very relieved to have taken the set.

Murray 6-6 Hrbaty
The perfect start for Murray as he tries to stay in the set with the first three points, including an amazing forehand down the line. It gives him three break-back points and a double fault by Hrbaty gives Murray the game and sets up a crucial tie-break.

Murray 5-6 Hrbaty
Holding serve in the previous game boosts Hrbaty's confidence and puts the pressure back on Murray at 15-40. Murray responds with an ace to save one but he nets on the next to be broken once more.

Murray 5-5 Hrbaty
With the pressure on, Hrbaty badly needs a decent service game and he gets it - just about to level it up again.

Murray 5-4 Hrbaty
Murray survives a wobble at 15-30 with an ace and takes control of the game with a patient rally as he eventually coaxes a mistake out of Hrbaty and then sends down an ace on the next point.

Murray 4-4 Hrbaty
Can Hrbaty recover from losing the last two games? His confidence seems to have taken a knock and he twice unsuccessfully challenges serves which are called out. Amid all the chaos, Murray stays calm, gets his break point chance and another Hrbaty mistake sees the Scot level the set.

Murray 3-4 Hrbaty
Murray is making little or no impact on his own serve and Hrbaty, not surprisingly, gets a chance to break again. But Murray's serve gets back on track and he saves two of the three break points with good first serves and a careless Hrbaty error on the approach to the net sees the chance vanish. Another well-placed serve and an ace on the next two points allow the Scot breathe a sigh of relief.

Murray 2-4 Hrbaty
This match is far from straightforward and it's another break of serve. Murray gets three break points and wins the game on the first when Hrbaty, whose shot placement is getting a bit wayward, goes wide with a crosscourt forehand.

Murray 1-4 Hrbaty
Although Murray puts up some good defence, Hrbaty gets another break point chance but Murray keeps his calm with a cross-court shot to save it. But Hrbaty forces his opponent wide to get aother break point chance and a superb forehand reminds Murray that he is in control.

Murray 1-3 Hrbaty
Could the double break be the wake-up call Murray needs? He wins the first two points of the game and then gets two break points. He nets on the first but again makes the most of Hrbaty's second serve on the second to attack and win his first game.

Murray 0-3 Hrbaty
Murray is not feeling 100% after a throat infection and it shows. His serve deserts him again and Hrbaty gets three break points thanks to a superb approach shot. Murray saves the first two but double faults on the third, throwing his racket to the ground as Hrbaty has a double break.

Murray 0-2 Hrbaty
Things look bad for Murray when he goes 40-0 down but he capitalises on Hrbaty's weaker second serve to get back to deuce. But with Hrbaty getting good length on his shots, it allows him to hold.