Sony Ericsson Open, Miami

Third-round result:

A MURRAY (GB) bt N Massu (Chi)

6-4 6-4

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

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By Piers Newbery

SECOND SET:

Murray 6-4 Massu
"Noooooooo!" A world-class wail emanates from deep inside Massu when he dumps a backhand into the net at 0-15. The Chilean gets the benefit of a HawkEye decision on the next point and wins the replayed rally, giving it some "Vamooooos!" - and there's even more two points later when Murray goes long to bring up break point. A tense rally ensues and this time Massu goes long, allowing Murray to respond with a good old "Yeesssss!"

Deuce, and this time Massu seizes control from the baseline, taking it with the off-forehand special. A second break point for Massu and he flails a forehand return way, way wide, before drifitng a backhand slice over the baseline.

Finally, match point.... Ace! Thank the Lord, we can all rela.... hang on, apparently it's been called out and Murray then double faults. Very strange. Murray regroups with a magnificent backhand volley and it's match point number two... and Murray takes it with a winner. Strange match, Murray not at his best, but he rolls on.

Join us later in the week for more Murray/Shakira updates.

Murray 5-4 Massu
Kerthump!A couple of big aces down the middle take Massu to 40-15 and he seals the game with his favourite, the off-forehand screamer - there is a bit of pressure on Murray to serve this one out now.

Murray 5-3 Massu
Murray flops a routine forehand into the net to find himself 0-30 down, and another error soon after makes it 15-40. Massu goes for a ridiculous return on the first and we get a "C'mon!" from Murray, but the Briton sticks a backhand long and one of the breaks is lost.

2144: "Lol loving that tantrum icon, Piers (see 2119). Made me laugh out loud everytime I scrolled back down to it, lol."
From West_Ham_Forever on 606

- The combination of praise and West Ham made that a sure-fire winner.

Murray 5-2 Massu
Yikes. Massu plays one superb wrong-footing forehand and there is a collective intake of breath as Murray turns awkwardly to follow it. Even the umpire says, "You OK, Andy?" Fortunately the Scot seems fine and is content to let Massu take that game easily enough.

Murray 5-1 Massu
Murray takes that one to love and all is well with the world - unless you're a Massu fan, obviously.

2139: "Sat at work at 9:30pm reconciling accounts. Does life get any worse? Wish i were a tennis player... although would settle for ballboy/man right now."
From anon via text on 81111

Murray 4-1 Massu
Poor old Nic - he fires one seemingly brilliant cross-court backhand onto the line but Murray challenges and HawkEye rules against the Chilean. And at last, one of those shots that take the breath away.... we all know it's coming when Massu heads to the net but he can still do nothing as Murray sweeps up an unplayable topspin forehand lob. A big return follows and it's the double-break. Classy.

Murray 3-1 Massu
Massu makes a pretty tame attempt at smashing his racquet when he sticks one in the net - frankly, it wasn't worthy of a graphic - and Murray comes through easily to 15. Coach Miles MacLagan looks distractedly at his fingernails. Probably thinking about dinner plans.

Murray 2-1 Massu
At 30-30 we look all set for another Murray break but Massu fights back, taking the key point with a sharp volley and pumping his fist - there is life in him yet. A good serve seals the game and Massu stays in touch.

Murray 2-0 Massu
Murray looks very comfortable and his first-serve percentage has soared to a respectable 60%. Massu looks like a man who knows the game is up. Which is the perfect cue for a comeback....

Murray 1-0 Massu
Massu kicks off the second set with a double-fault, two forehand errors and a woeful drop shot that Murray smacks into the corner. This one could be over quickly now.

2119: "It was on the line! Chalk flew up! YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS! Thought i'd send that in to get the first tantrum graphic!"
Ian in durham via text on 8111

FIRST SET:

Murray 6-4 Massu
So what was all the fuss about, eh? Murray wraps up the set with a love game in no time.

Murray 5-4 Massu
Come on then, who wants it? No, I haven't just necked some premium strength lager, I'm referring to the see-saw nature of this match. Massu makes it three breaks in a row with three successive double-faults and follows up with some colourful Spanish for the locals. He then has a go at umpire Steve Ullrich on the changeover about the earlier time violation. Let it go, Nicolas, let it go...

2111: "I think Murray will be OK. He wont have to make any winning shots in this game to win. Massu will oblige with mistakes."
From foscari on 606

2110: "On the way home from white city to finchley. Come on murray!"
Najma near finchley central via text on 81111

Murray 4-4 Massu
The ball falls gently into the forecourt for Massu to smack away into the stands and all of a sudden it's 0-40 for the Chilean. A big return on the second break point is enough and we're level again. Murray's first-serve percentage is down at 40% and that is starting to hurt the Briton.

2105: "Why was there no british down sign when murray lost his serve or when he was 3-0. Surely you are not biased Piers :)"
From Kalika, Rickmansworth, via text on 81111

- Absolutely not Kalika, I owe it to the people of Chile to remain impartial. And I reserve the right to be completely random where graphics are concerned. It's one of the perks.

Murray 4-3 Massu
Hmmm, a bit of dodgy language from Murray there after he's made to scramble unsuccessfully behind the baseline as Massu continues to dominate the rallies. I have to officially warn the British number one that another one of those and the tantrum graphic is coming out.

Great stuff from Massu at deuce - he fires a serve wide and despatches the return into the opposite corner. And then he double-faults. Murray is back to his passive style of chipping it back and it works when a frustrated Massu hammers one into the net. The Chilean then gets a time violation at break-point down before finding a net-cord with another huge forehand. One way or another, the tantrum graphic will surely be out soon... Murray leads.

Shakira shamelessly - and successfully - tries to get involved in our coverage

Murray 3-3 Massu
A second double-fault of the day is not an ideal start to the game and a loose backhand sees Murray pegged back to 30-30. Massu runs around another backhand and absolutely creams an off-forehand into the corner for deuce before Murray double-faults... again.

The Scot saves the break point with a big serve which Massu challenges, only to find it scraped the line, and Murray just about comes through. Scratchy stuff though. Maybe a picture of Shakira would cheer him up...

Murray 2-3 Massu
A first glimmer of hope comes for Murray when Massu dumps a very makeable smash into the net for 15-40. Massu saves the first break point with a good serve but goes well wide with a loose forehand on the second and Murray is back in it, without having had to do that much.

2042: "Help Piers, I've been kicked off the tennis so my mum can watch a wedding film! What do I do?!"
From anon via text on 81111

- An extraordinary maternal decision, I can only sympathise. And in my experience most wedding films go on longer than The Godfather and can be equally gruesome. Thank goodness for text-based tennis coverage, eh?

Murray 1-3 Massu
That's a bit more like - Murray takes some pace off and makes sure he gets some first serves in. Massu looks like he's forced deuce with another blistering forehand drive volley but HawkEye says it sneaked out. Never in doubt.

Murray 0-3 Massu
You know a man is on form when he runs around his backhand and thumps a drive volley straight down the line. That's certainly what I do when I'm on form. I must have done several marathons running around my backhand.

Anyway, it's been a really aggressive start from Massu and he earns game point with a big serve. Murray does well to tie the Chilean down in a lengthy rally and force the error, and a snatched forehand into the net from Massu gives Murray break point...... Wallop - Ace - Vamos! A wayward Murray drop shot hands over the game and a chance is gone for the Scot.

Murray 0-2 Massu
A couple of successful, and unexpected, trips to the net help Massu to 15-30. Murray responds with an ace and then a double-fault, and Massu converts his first break point after an aggressive return leads to Murray going over the baseline.

2019: "Ahhhh! Massu is wearing the Verdasco top. How confusing! Wasnt expecting to see that until the quarters."
Cogen from 606 (via text, confusingly)

Murray 0-1 Massu
We open as expected with a baseline duel and Murray takes it after a beautiful backhand down the line. Murray's other trademark, the drop shot, provides another winner but Massu does well to hold to 30.

2016: The Chemical Brothers provide the background music for the knock-up. Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears is texting furiously in the stands, coach Miles MacLagan is resolutely sticking with his dubious blue floppy hat, and Murray himself is again wearing the baseball cap he put on when struggling against Monaco. All of which amounts to very little.... Play.

2012: The players are out on court and knocking up. It's been incredibly humid in Miami (so I'm told, west London remains temperate) and Murray struggled with that a bit in his opening win over Juan Monaco. That could be Massu's best hope.

2006: But enough of that nonsense, Colombian pop thimble Shakira was in the crowd just now during the Nadal match. Will she stick around for Murray? I do not know. Nadal beat Frederico Gil 7-5 6-3 by the way, and remains the likely semi-final opponent should Murray get that far.

2003: Good evening, and welcome to an evening of lawn tennis squeezed in between all the Formula 1, international football, world-class cycling and the sport that Tiger Woods plays, which appears to be different to what every other golfer gets up to.

Andy Murray is about to take on 2004 Olympic champion Nicolas Massu at the Miami Masters 1000 event, with a place in the last 16 at stake. The winner will play Serbia's Viktor Troicki, who earlier beat Bjorn Phau 6-4 6-3.

The pair have met once before back in 2006, when a fresh-faced 19-year-old Murray beat the Chilean 6-1 6-4 6-4 in the first round at Wimbledon. And the facts do not stack up well regarding a Massu victory today....

Murray is ranked four, Massu is ranked 91; Murray likes hard courts, Massu likes clay; Murray is 21, Massu is 29; Murray has won two tournaments and 21 matches in 2009, Massu has won... two matches.

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