Masters Cup Red Group result: A MURRAY (GBR) bt G SIMON (FRA) 6-4 6-2 LATEST ACTION (all times GMT)  | 606: DEBATE |
To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used)1154: Federer is next up on court - any second now - against Andy Roddick's stand-in Radek Stepanek and the Swiss star needs to win this match otherwise he is out of the reckoning for the last four. This is it from me, though, folks - thanks for your banter and let's hope for more of the same from you and Murray in the semi-finals.
Roddick pulls out of Masters Cup 1152: Well done to David in Hammersmith, and everyone else on text and 606 who predicted a straightforward win for Andy Murray - but most of all, well done to the man himself - a very impressive performance there and he will be in the last four even if he loses 6-0 6-0 to Roger Federer in his final group match on Friday. "I would make him favourite for the title after the way he played this last match - mentally he was so strong and he answered everything Simon threw at him."
Zimbabwe tennis player Kevin Ullyett talks about Murray on 5 Live Sports Extra 1148: "At times it was a masterpiece by Murray and it bodes well for him in the semi-finals - a great win for him - now he has two knockout matches and you have to think he has a very, very good chance."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra. Murray 6-4 6-2 Simon
Still some French flags waving in the crowd and some signs of life from Simon when some sloppy play from Murray takes the Frenchman to 15-30. Murray cannot put away a forehand on the next point but it is still enough to take him to 30-all. A clever overhead takes Murray to matchpoint and, using the same ball, he hits a forehand winner to wrap up his victory and he is into the semi-finals of the Masters Cup. Murray 6-4 5-2 Simon
Simon's unforced error count is on the rise but he still has enough about him to recover from 15-30 to hold with some good serving of his own. Murray will serve for the match next though. Murray 6-4 5-1 Simon
Murray is close to the finishing line and he knows it...he is out and waiting to serve while Simon is still in his chair. He races through the game too - holding to love. Murray 6-4 4-1 Simon
That could be that folks - Simon seems to have lost his way and two double-faults don't help his cause. Murray is 15-40 up but he plays a couple of poor returns to take us to deuce. Then comes a point which shows just what a good athlete the Brit has become; as he changes direction completely and sprints to the net to somehow reach a shot off the net-cord then despatches a smash with glee to give him another breakpoint. This time, he takes it, thanks to another Simon mistake and the Frenchman is clearly angry as he goes to his chair - Murray is a double-break up in the second set and two games away from a place in the semi-finals. Murray 6-4 3-1 Simon
Murray needed an easy hold after all his efforts in the early part of this second set and he gets just that. Some big serves and tidy groundstrokes see him consolidate without any problems - just the ticket. "Grrreeattt Break to Murray - now Simon looks tired. The tide is now turning towards the Muzza."
KelticPirate
Join the debate on 606 Murray 6-4 2-1 Simon
A big, big game for Murray. A couple of wayward shots from Simon takes the Brit to 15-40 before another forehand drifts wide to give Murray his first break of the second set. That's the tale of this very tight match so far - Simon has taken only one of his eight break points. Murray has taken three from six. Murray 6-4 1-1 Simon
Hmmm, danger for Murray as he finds himself at 0-30 but he replies with a booming ace that brings a few whoops from the Shanghai crowd and the next point ends when Simon aims a big forehand down the line but can only find the net. Murray, like myself, looks to use the same ball after he has won a point but needs to fight for it from a ball-girl. It doesn't do him much good, however, as Simon works the next rally beautifully - moving Murray around the court before despatching a stinging forehand into the corner. That gives the Frenchman a breakpoint but he puts a backhand drive the wrong side of the line and his next chance goes when Murray plays another dinky drop-shot. Simon keeps going, however, and gets a third breakpoint thanks to a Murray mistake, but this one is wasted too and the Brit holds on his first game-point. Phew! Murray 6-4 0-1 Simon
Murray gets off to a good start in the second set, taking the first point after another long rally but Simon is motoring himself now too and takes the next four points to hold. Murray is still attacking his serve but is not finding his mark at the moment. "He's grown up over the last 18 months. There's a lot of respect for him in the locker room. He's quite cheeky and causes trouble here and there."
Zimbabwe tennis player Kevin Ullyett talks about Murray on 5 Live Sports Extra "Both players get the ball in with such consistency, although it's not always the hardest hitting you'll see. There does seem to be a little bit of practice hitting going on at times...."
Beethoven's Left Ear on 606
Join the debate on 606 FIRST SET Murray 6-4 Simon
Good stuff by Murray - he keeps things simple, following up some big serves with some precise groundstrokes, and he has the first set in the bag while Simon is left muttering to the umpire after using up all his challenges. A straight-sets win will put Murray into the semi-finals and he is halfway to that now. "So wait, does this mean Murray has to play a fourth round robin match or will Stepanek be disadvantaged by Roddick's loss?"
Tom, in Manchester via text on 81111 For those of you just joining us, Andy Roddick has pulled out with an ankle injury and Radek Stepanek, the world number 27 and second reserve here, has stepped in. Stepanek will take Roddick's first result - a defeat by Murray - but can still reach the semi-finals. He plays Roger Federer after this match.
Roddick pulls out of Masters Cup Murray 5-4 Simon
Simon has a big serve and forehand combo which is working well but Murray claws back to 30-all before the Frenchman raises his game again with a stunning forehand to move to 40-30 and a big serve to seal the hold. Nice stuff from the man from Nice but Murray will serve for the first set next. "Murray should have been in the second set by now - poor taking the foot off the gas in this way!"
AlexCricket on 606
Join the debate on 606 A bit harsh that! "Simon is playing out of his skin at the moment"
BrewstersMillions on 606
Join the debate on 606 I think this is nearer the mark myself... Murray 5-3 Simon
Another marathon game with some fantastic rallies and Simon is right in this match now. Murray recovers from 0-30 thanks to his first big delivery for a while and some tidy tennis at the net sees him claw back to 30-all. The next point is a big one and a long rally too - which ends when Murray sends a wild forehand flashing long. Simon wastes his first break-point and an ace rescues Murray on his second before a couple of rash shots by the Frenchmen sees Murray claim a crucial hold. "It must be like looking in a mirror for Andy. Simon is playing a very Murray-like match."
Jonathan Overend on 5 Live Sports Extra Murray 4-3 Simon
Simon seems to have waken up and has a bit of confidence about him now. It is Murray's turn to put a couple of forehands into the net and the Frenchman holds easily enough. "Simon has definitely perked up - he is getting a better depth to his shots and is not making the same errors he was earlier - we have a set on our hands now. "
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra Murray 4-2 Simon
Hang on, this one is not over yet. Murray is coasting and has a point for 5-1 but puts an easy overhead into the net and Simon hits back to break after a couple more errors from the Brit. Murray is still a break to the good but he has work to do in this first set. "Why on earth is the world 29 second reserve? Shouldn't it be the world number 10? Maths might not be my strong point, but I'm pretty sure 8+2 isn't 29."
Ben via text on 81111 Stepanek is the world number 27 but I know what you mean - I think it is just down to who wanted to come to Shanghai on the off-chance of getting a game...the higher ranked players chose not to go as reserves. Murray 4-1 Simon
Murray is still stepping in to attack the Simon second serve with some booming crosscourt shots that his opponent has no answer to - he tries a drop-shot of his own but he has not got the Murray magic and quickly trails 15-40. The first break point comes and goes when a Murray lob lands an inch out with Simon well beaten and a big serve rescues the Frenchman at 30-40. The man from Nice has not made many volleys so far today but he finally finds a winner on the next point and, when Murray puts a return in the net, Simon is off the mark at last. "He's a tricky customer this Simon but surely this battering must erode his confidence. Is he a comeback kid? Will he resurface in the second?"
braeport on 606
Join the debate on 606 Murray 4-0 Simon
More mistakes by Simon, and he is looking very edgy at the moment - a lot of his shots are landing halfway up the net and Murray has the measure of him right now - the Brit holds with ease. "I think Murray will win this in straight sets. He's not messing about this year!"
David in Hammersmith, via text on 81111 Murray 3-0 Simon
Inspired stuff this by Murray - and he has his second break of the match. Another delicate drop shot leaves Simon sprawling and the Frenchman puts a routine volley into the net at 15-40. Murray could not ask for a better start. Murray 2-0 Simon
Another battle this, after sloppy flicked forehand by Murray gives Simon a sniff at 30-all. The Brit is quickly in on a short one from Simon on the next point and despatches a thunderous forehand but a double-fault gives us another deuce and, after a 36-shot rally, Murray puts a backhand in the tramlines to give Simon a break-point. A rash return wastes that for Simon but another Murray mistake means he needs a big serve to dig himself out a hole. Crisis over? Yes. A mistake by Simon and a nonchalant drop shot from Murray bring us a shake of the fist as he holds, eventually. The first two games have taken over 15 minutes... "Hopefully Murray wins it in straights. I fear the longer it goes on, the better chance Simon has."
StandfreeFM on 606
Join the debate on 606 "What would happen if all the players in the Masters pull out? Will it just be eight players who are under the top 20? Doubtful yes, but possible."
Andy via text on 81111 Murray 1-0 Simon
Phew, at this rate we could be here a while. The first two rallies are real marathons, with both players starting patiently, as expected, but producing some terrific stuff. Simon comes into the net after reaching a Murray drop-shot to go 30-15 but a big backhand brings the Brit to 30-all. We have our first challenge of the match on the next point when a Murray forehand down the line is, correctly, called wide but he comes in to despatch a winner on the Frenchman's next serve and a wild backhand hands him a break-point. Simon puts another backhand into the net and Murray has his first break. Not a bad start, that... "That's a fine start for Murray. He's all over Simon like a rash"
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra 1011: Here we go. Gilles Simon will serve first. 1010: Murray and Simon are out on court and warming up. Murray is all in blue, again, while Simon is wearing a grey-yellow combo and looks a little like a wasp. 1009: "These two are very intelligent, diligent players - they both have quite similar styles and they will know exactly how each other play. This should be a terrific match."
Times correspondent Neil Harman on 5 Live Sports Extra 1007: "Did Stepanek just happen to be passing by on the off chance?"
Brad in Farnham via text on 81111 He was second reserve apparently...Gilles Simon was first reserve. Not sure who the third reserve is...Boggo? 1005: So who is Gilles Simon? Good question. The world number nine is only in Shanghai because of Rafael Nadal's withdrawal but the 23-year-old from Nice shocked Federer in his opening match here and has also beaten Nadal and Djokovic this year - so he is handy. Murray has won their last two matches but the final of the Madrid Masters last month was pretty tight and the British number one's batteries have run down a bit since then...expect a close encounter of the third (set) kind...
Murray seals second Masters title 1003: Murray and Simon are being introduced to the crowd in Shanghai - plenty of dry ice there too folks. 1001: "Radek Stepanek has an unlikely opportunity to make a name for himself. It is not inconceivable that he wins his two matches and reaches the semi-final."
Jonathan Overend on 5 Live Sports Extra 0958: Sorry to be the bearer of more bad news after A-Rod's withdrawal, but here's an update on our old friend Alex Bogdanovic...who, er, didn't quite make it to Shanghai. Boggo went to Jersey instead and has lost to a player ranked 55 places below him. He didn't even win the first set this time either...
Bogdanovic crashes out in Jersey 0956: Assuming Stepanek inherits Roddick's opening defeat (which I'm pretty sure he does) - here is the maths for today... If either Murray or Simon win in straight sets, they definitely go through to the semi-finals and join Novak Djokovic, who ensured his progress from the Gold Group when he beat Russia's Nikolay Davydenko - but not without a struggle. Djokovic wins to reach last four 0952: All a bit strange, this, but world number 27 Radek Stepanek is going to step in and play Federer instead. Roddick turned his ankle in practice apparently. 0951: BREAKING NEWS Andy Roddick has pulled out with an ankle injury. 0949: The Red Group is about to resume with Andy Murray taking on Gilles Simon (at around 1000 GMT) after their wins in their opening group games. The other match sees top seed Roger Federer play Andy Roddick (not before 1200 GMT) with both men looking for their first victory.
Murray ready for tough Simon test 0945: Morning tennis fans. Feeling tired and weary? Jaded? No, me neither - it's just the players at the Masters Cup who are on their last legs - poor mites. Plenty to play for today though people...if they can stand the pace.
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