Andy Murray Beats Martin Klizan in 4 Sets at 2017 French Open
Andy Murray recovered from a set down to book his place in Round 3 of the 2017 French Open on Thursday, overcoming Martin Klizan 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (3).
The top seed and world No. 1 looked vulnerable earlier in the match as Klizan sensed a shock victory. But Murray found his edge to dominate the second set, and he never looked to be in danger of losing the match after that.
Next up for Murray is a tricky tie with big-hitting Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine also progressed on Thursday at Roland Garros after Nicolas Almagro retired from their match.
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Murray Makes It Through
After needing four sets to get past Andrey Kuznetsov in Round 1, Murray would have been hoping to get a routine, straight-sets win on the board in Paris. However, Klizan proved to be a testing opponent.
The left-handed Slovak grabbed an early break and put himself in a position to serve for the set at 5-3. Even when Murray clawed his way back to level at 5-5, there was composure from Klizan, and in an eventual tiebreak he looked the stronger man.
The underdog took it 7-3, and an out-of-sorts Murray had a mountain to climb. At the start of an even second set, he got some fortune, per Eurosport UK:
From that point on, the Briton was a different animal. In the second stanza his shots carried more conviction, he was patient in his approach and on the big points he showcased his superior experience. Murray broke again to win the set 6-2 and level the clash up.
Per tennis journalist Carole Bouchard, while the three-time Grand Slam champion was in the ascendency, already Klizan didn't look to have too much in the tank:
With momentum at his back, the top seed was on the front foot immediately in the third set, forcing his opponent into mistakes and breaking at the first opportunity. The gulf in class was beginning to show between the two, as Klizan couldn't get his booming forehand into play.
Murray was getting comfortable facing the Klizan serve too, as he went on to break for the fourth time in a couple of sets. He wrapped up the third set 6-2, and his opponent became the one with the mountain to climb.
Per Eleanor Crooks of the Press Association, a formerly frustrated Murray appeared to be in better spirits out on the Roland Garros clay:
Murray would be unhappy again at the start of the fourth, though, as Klizan broke after initially holding and took a 3-0 lead in the stanza.
With his forehand starting to become a factor in the match again, the world No. 50 was dictating proceedings for much of the fourth set and carved out a position to serve for a decider. Yet Murray, as he so often does, was able to dig deep and break back.
In his next service game Klizan showed his mettle, brilliantly saving two break points to stay in contention, with Murray then holding his own serve to force a tiebreak.
Despite the best efforts of the determined outsider, the world No. 1's class and conditioning were eventually enough to see him into Round 3, clinching the match with a stunning volley. Still, there's no doubt Murray must improve if he's going to be in contention for the Coupe des Mousquetaires next Sunday.
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