Sony Ericsson Open, Miami

Fourth-round result:

A MURRAY (GB) v V TROICKI (Ser)

6-1 6-0

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By Ben Dirs

SECOND SET:

Murray 6-0 Troicki
Troicki just wants to get his feet up in the locker room now, as he mishits a forehand return to make it 15-0. Shot of the match from Murray, scurrying across the back of the court and sending a coruscating forehand winner across the bows of Troicki. And that's a wrap, Troicki unable to deal with the Murray serve and the Scot will rarely have an easier day in the sun than that. An essay in demolition, Murray got the job done in less than an hour.

Murray 5-0 Troicki
Simon, Staffs, while watching McEnroe in a huff was strangely compelling, watching Murray with the hump is like browsing for wood varnish in Homebase. Nice touch from Troicki, who leaves Murray floundering with a drop shot, but Murray seals another break with a whipped forehand cross-court.

Murray 4-0 Troicki
Murray's second ace makes it 30-0... but his second double fault makes it 40-15. Troicki can really trolley his forehand at times, and Murray goes a shade long with a backhand. Deuce as Murray goes long with a cross-court forehand, but he wins the next with a smash... before coming up with his third double. Murray has opened the sun roof, wound down the window and taken his foot off the gas slightly in this game, but he does hold when Troicki plonks a backhand into the net.

"Ben, who do you reckon looks the most unhappy and miserable on court? Murray, or McEnroe in his heyday? A close call surely?"
Simon, Staffs via TEXT on 81111

Murray 3-0 Troicki
Troicki gives Murray the runaround from the back of the court before putting away the forehand smash, but follows up with a wild forehand that lands long. Troicki makes it 30-30 with his fourth ace, but that's only the 11th first serve he's got in. Troicki bunts a tame backhand into the net to make it deuce, wins the next with a whipped topspin forehand, but then comes up with his fourth double. Troicki goes long again before Murray pounces on another second serve right in the slot - double break, Murray in cruise control. Obviously, Anon, the comment about all modern tennis players having enough money to spend $2,500 a month on vibration dampeners was a little joke. If it's one of the most enraging comments you've ever heard, then I suspect you've never been on the 174 from Romford station.

"I bet you wont post this message, but, as a tennis player, let me tell you that most are not loaded. What about the thousands who tried but didn't get there -plane tickets, coaches, hotels, equipment, I could go on. That is one of the most ignorant and enraging comments ever."
Anon via TEXT on 81111

Murray 2-0 Troicki
Troicki changes things up, coming to the net and putting away a deft forehand volley. Troicki frames a forehand before Murray holds with a flicked backhand cross-court winner. Troicki being humiliated here, he must want to be swallowed up at the moment.

Murray 1-0 Troicki
Troicki, who showed signs in his last service game that he might make a game of it in this second set, pulls out his third ace, but Murray seizes on another poor, shallow second serve from Troicki to make it deuce. Troicki saves, before dredging up a double fault and Murray moves breaks after another unforced error from the Serb. As bad days at work go, this is the equivalent of you or I tripping over in the office and accidentally punching the boss in the goolies.

"Come on Murray, you can count on my support as long as you keep yourself nice, smart and clean-shaven. No I'm not an old bag."
Rachel T in Lincoln via TEXT on 81111

"Such a different Murray has come out today! It will be interesting to see if Nadal can do the same later! I'm looking forward to that semi!"
George on 606

FIRST SET:

Murray 6-1 Troicki

Lengthy rally before Murray finishes Troicki off with a stiletto, sliding a deft backhand winner down the line. Troicki goes long with a forehand before Murray, looking for another winner down the line, makes it 30-30 with a backhand into the net. Ace from Murray brings up set point, and, like a bully toppling over a victim with an extended forefinger, the Scot pulls out a well-directed serve to claim the set. And there's a graphic.

Murray 5-1 Troicki
Great angle on the backhand from Murray, but he's unable to put away a straightforward volley. Troicki's first serve is running at 7% at the moment, which would have made him second from last in my first year chemistry exam, just above the kid who ate worms. Boom! Troicki's hears me and sends down a booming ace. He could do without bad luck as well, but he's getting it: a net cord balloons well long, and Murray has a break point. Troicki pulls out a big serve to save before moving to advantage... but he duffs a backhand to make it deuce. Murray tries to drop shot for old time's sake, but Troicki puts him away, and he then gets a little crumb of luck, a poorly hit backhand volley just dribbling over the net.

Murray 5-0 Troicki
Murray puts away a lazy overhead before Troicki puts a backhand return into the middle of the net. Nothing wrong with Troicki's forehand in that rally - two bully beef groundstrokes send Murray scampering before the world number 41 puts away the overhead. However, Murray keeps his focus and holds. Troicki's beaten some faces, but Murray's making him look distinctly average at the moment. A text! From Steve ! Telling me I've spelt "meak" wrong. Booo! I mean sorry.

Murray 4-0 Troicki
A couple more unforced errors from Troicki before Murray goes long to make it 30-30. The Scot clutches his racquet and stares at the umpire like a mother might stare at her toddler on seeing him plant an ice cream on top of his head. Not happy. Troicki outlasts Murray again before Murray unveils a couple of superb returns. Troicki produces another unforced error and you can see the confidence draining from the Serb. Another break. Don't forget, you can text me on 81111 if you want to chat about stuff. Did you know that Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar used to spend $2,500 a month on elastic bands to hold his readies together. Most modern tennis players are so lodded, they probably spend that on vibration dampeners.

Murray 3-0 Troicki
Troicki doesn't look to be the most mobile - first he dinks a forehand just wide after chasing it down before pulling another forehand just wide after pulled this way and that. Murray attempts the lob, but Troicki puts away the overhead to make it 30-15. Troicki is unable to return a good serve before the Serb goes long again after being lured into the net. Easy for Murray, but he still has a moan up at the end of the game. I strongly suspect Murray would complain if there wasn't a little guy in one of his post-match olives.

Murray 2-0 Troicki
Another Troicki forehand goes wide... and another, although that looked pretty good from where I'm sitting, which is, admittedly, a few thousand miles away. I don't know much about the Serb, but his forehand would appear to be his weakness - another meek shot into the net. Troicki hits back with an ace - Murray not happy about that one - before Murray yanks a backhand into the net. Two break points saved. However, Murray capitalises on a friendly net cord and puts away the resulting volley. Murray looking solid.

Murray 1-0 Troicki
Just the odd cotton wool cloud overhead and it's Murray to serve first. Long rally to kick off with and Troicki cracks first, putting a forehand into the middle of the net. Troicki nicks a point back, but Murray holds pretty easily, Troicki going wide with a backhand. It's hotter and steamier than a mug of Ovaltine in Miami, but Murray will still prefer this to last week's final in Indian Wells - it was gusting that day.

1836: My, this is some spot to play tennis. The Tennis Center at Crandon Park, adjacent to Ocean Drive, a light wind bustling across the court, it's all a bit country club. Lovely.

1830: Evening. It's Andrew Murray against Serbian world number 41 Viktor Troicki in Miami, and the British number one might have a grapple on his hands. Troicki upset number 14 seed David Nalbandian on Saturday and beat Tomas Berdych in Indian Wells last week. Murray, however, has won their one previous encounter - 6-3 6-3 in St Petersburg last year.

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