A MURRAY (GB) v R NADAL (2) (Sp)

6-7 4-6

By Alex Perry

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Murray 6-7 4-6 Nadal
Murray begins confidently to take the first point, but then goes long twice and finds the net with a forehand to go double match-point down at 15-40. He saves the first by just reaching a drop shot, but Nadal fires a winner as Murray moves into the net to seal a brilliant victory.

Murray 6-7 4-5 Nadal
Breathtaking tennis. At 40-15 down, Murray finds a groove and swipes his way to break-point. A forehand into the corner looks a sure-fire winner, but Nadal somehow turns defence into attack and somehow manages to hold the Briton off. Big pressure on Murray now.

Murray 6-7 4-4 Nadal
We're level again. Murray staves off two break-points with a first serve winner and an ace, but he can't handle a fizzing Nadal cross-court shot at the net on break-point three.

Debate is raging on 606 about who is the world's number four (after Federer, Nadal and Djokovic). Blake, Gasquet, Berdych and Davydenko all get name-checked.

Murray 6-7 4-3 Nadal
Nadal's serve is slipping too, and Murray punishes him to move to 15-40. But two backhands drift wide and Nadal completes the hold with an ace.

"I just noticed Rafa's biceps are as big as Murrays legs hahah."
Topspinner26, on 606

Murray 6-7 4-2 Nadal
Murray's serve is not firing as it was in the first set, but he finds two first serves when he needs them at double break-point down before double-faulting after he successfully challenges an overrule from the umpire. The umpire's incorrect intervention seems to get in his head for a moment, but he staves off a fourth break-point and finally clinches the game after five deuces.

Murray 6-7 3-2 Nadal
Before the match Nadal said Murray would be in the top six if he hadn't got injured earlier in the year. 606 user EaStMiDz has him at number four when on form and 100% fit (interestingly with Ancic at five). Murray's certainly producing that sort of form, but a nonchalant cross-court winner is not enough to break again as Nadal reduces the arrears.

Murray 6-7 3-1 Nadal
Murray successfully challenges a ball called out and then fires down his eighth ace of the match. Another service winner gives Murray the game and a little breathing space at last.

Murray 6-7 2-1 Nadal
It's tit for tat. Murray opens up a 0-30 lead on Nadal's serve, and this time he makes it stick to go a break ahead once more.

Murray 6-7 1-1 Nadal
Incredible game. Murray comes back from 0-30 down and moves to game-point. The Spaniard then wins the point of the match by scampering to reach a ball he had no right to get close to and firing a cross-court winner that Murray just fails to return. Nadal seals the break, but they are fighting tooth and nail for every point.

Murray 6-7 1-0 Nadal
Brilliant response from Murray. He hauls himself back from 40-15 down and a fantastic inside-out forehand sets up break-point. Good to see Murray going for that shot despite his injury problems this year. Nadal saves the break-point there, but Murray will not be denied and earns the break with a punched backhand winner.

Murray 6-7 Nadal
That's the brilliance we expect from Nadal. Murray had just saved a set-point on the Spaniard's serve and seemed poised to level the tie-break when Nadal brilliantly turned the point round and hit a winner into the corner. Murray will wonder whether he should have gone for an ambitious drop-shot earlier in the tie-break, but 43 points apiece in the set shows how close this match is.

Murray 6-6 Nadal
What do you know? Just when you think Nadal has got Murray by the jugular, the Scot fights back and breaks to love himself. Tie-break time.

Murray 5-6 Nadal
Nadal has upped his level and the long rallies seem to have taken their toll on Murray, who is showing the first signs of tiredness. But then most look positively comatose next to Nadal. The Spaniard breaks to love and will serve for the set.

Murray 5-5 Nadal
We're level again. A couple of long rallies there and Nadal just won't give up on anything despite good pressure from Murray.

Murray 5-4 Nadal
Impressive from Murray as he comes back from 0-30 down and pulls out a fizzing first serve when break-point down at 30-40. He completes the hold and so it's over to Nadal.

"In Murray, Britain finally have an entertainer who can pull off any shot, not just a serve and volleyer."
Rob, London, by text

Murray 4-4 Nadal
Is the tide turning Nadal's way? He holds to love, mixing it up on his serve.

Murray 4-3 Nadal
Murray shows good mental strength as his serve comes under pressure for the first time. Nadal challenges a line call at 30-30 but gets it wrong and Murray fires a beautiful forehand winner to seal the hold.

"Murray needs to take his chances while he's on top. Nadal *does* look concerned and uncomfortable, but he's held both times."
Cricketing_stargazer, on 606

Murray 3-3 Nadal
Two more break-point chances go begging for Murray, the second when he mistimes a forehand after pinging in a beautiful break of serve. He'll kick himself if he doesn't win this set.

Murray 3-2 Nadal
Murray's serve is definitely in the groove - and that's what he said he needed if he was going to win the match. Another comfortable hold for Britain's number one. And thanks to James (and others) for pointing out that I'd inadvertently put Nadal down as from Argentina at the top of the page.

Murray 2-2 Nadal
The Spaniard holds to 30 but it could have been very different had Murray not missed his passing shot by a whisker on the opening point and Nadal not benefited from a net cord on the second. All square again.

Murray 2-1 Nadal
Nadal hasn't quite found his range and Murray holds to love. The Scot has definitely had the best of the opening exchanges.

Murray 1-1 Nadal
The match comes to the boil straight away with Murray three times moving to break-point. Nadal fires an unreturnable forehand to save the first and then pulls out two big serves as he makes the hold.

Murray 1-0 Nadal
It's a quick-fire start for Murray - he starts with an ace and only allows Nadal on the board with a double-fault. If he can serve like that and keep the ball in play, Murray has every chance against the world number two.

Andy Murray seems to be back to somewhere near his best after struggling with a wrist injury for most of the summer.

Nadal has had his own injury problems but was impressive against Marcos Baghdatis in the last round.

The two played out a thriller in the Australian Open back in January when Nadal won in five sets.

Let me know how you see it going.