“It’s nice to play different game styles” he says of the Australian’s game. “He didn’t start the game serving so well which helped me.” There’s a lovely moment when he says that Groth revealed in the tunnel before they walked out that it was literally his first hit on centre court here, let alone an actual competitive match. “That’s great. That’s good,” laughed Murray of the advantage he gained as a result.
“She’s helped me a lot and hopefully we can get over the hump here,” Murray says of the return of coach Amelie Mauresmo. Then he has a few nice words about Lleyton Hewitt, who might farewell us tonight. “He was someone I loved watching growing up,” Murray says of the Aussie. “I actually named one of my dogs after him,” he adds before noting how helpful the Australian was to him when he was just another youngster on the tour. “I hope he does great tonight.” Lovely stuff.
Groth, meanwhile, grabs his bags, grimaces and heads for the tunnel. He’ll have better days than this one. That’s all from us for this one but stop by for more live action tonight as Lleyton Hewitt takes on David Ferrer.
Murray wins in straight sets! 6-0, 6-4, 6-1
3rd set: *Murray 6-1 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray wins it 3-0
Groth keeps fighting to the last, bless him, and also added injury to insult in the final game, wrenching his ankle advancing to the net. He’s tough though, like I said, and a last-second retirement was never on the cards so he sticks with it until the Scott fires down an ace to close it out. He’s through to the third round!
Murray 5-1 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
This is all unravelling very quickly for Groth, who stumbles on serve to hand over three break points, the first of which sees Murray launch another audacious lob. It’s long and Groth serves and volleys well to save the next too before spearing a big firsts serve down the line to level it at deuce. And then...Murray breaks. He’ll serve for the match.
4-1 Groth* (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Groth’s certainly not just lying down here and atatcks Murray’s serve at every opportunity, which is fine until a forehand return goes spearing away at right angles to concede the game. It’s a matter of time now, this one. The Aussie put up a fight in the second set but he’s clearly outmatched.
Murray 3-1 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
It’s probably a nice break from monster waves and shark-punching for Mick Fanning as he sits in the crowd for this match, though his compatriot Groth isn’t quite reaching such world-beating heights. Still, he holds here in a love game to get on the board in this third set.
Murray 3-0 Groth* (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
A 213kmph ace puts Murray at 30-15 and I guess that’s a decent point at which to look at some stats. Murray has hit 24 winners to Groth’s 16 but the unforced error count is more telling; 26 to the Australian and only 8 to Murray. Groth digs in here but Murray eventually holds with a brief shake of the head. He marks himself harshly.
Elsewhere Laura Siegemund has fought back to take the second set 7-6 against Jelena Jankovic, who won the first 6-3, while Milos Raonic leads Tommy Robredo 7-6, 7-6, 1-1.
Murray 2-0 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Bang! Murray stretches himself to full extension to clatter a backhand winner past Groth on his return and sets up three break points in no time. The Aussie calls for a towel, mops his sweaty brow and though he’s full of energy in a spirited rally he can’t stop Murray breaking his serve.
Murray 1-0 Groth* (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Murray returns with more strong stuff, thumping his way through another straightforward service game and I guess you’d hope that Groth doesn’t just fold now. He put in a decent shift in the second set.
Murray 6-4 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Here’s a test for Groth because he’s lost his serve plenty of times already in this match and if he does here he’ll be two sets down despite a valiant fightback. Perhaps he’s feeling that pressure when he double faults to make it 15-30. Either way Murray pounces, rifling a big backhand winner down the line to set up two set points. Groth saves the first but sends a drop volley wide to concede the set. That’s a shame. He’s worked his butt off to come back into this but it’s to no avail.
It’s not quite panic stations for the No2 seed but he does get very lucky when Groth’s able to smash another of his lobs but its close enough to Murray that he can strike a defensive backhand winner down the line to lead 30-0. He steadies again and thumps a big ace to seal the game.
The Australian is riding a wave of momentum now and belts a confident cross-court forehand to establish a 30-0 buffer on serve and soon holds to the delight of the crowd. Reader Jim Denvir has a valid question from earlier: “Is it my imagination, or does Murray lob more frequently the taller his opponent is?” he asks. Might be something in that.
Groth really takes it to Murray here, firing a big forehand past the stretching Scot to make it 15-30 and then there’s a break opportunity when Murray sends a curling cross-court forehand into the net. And would you believe it, he takes it when Murray cracks a backhand long! The crowd is loving it. Groth was being beaten up ten minutes ago but now he’s throwing a few punches of his own.
More fighting from Groth, who slams down another big ace – his third to Murray’s four – to go up 30-0 and soon has three game points to hold. He does! he’s on fire, the Australian.Normal service resumes now with Murray exerting a minimalist, ruthless control over this service game to reach 40-0 before Groth has another nice mini-moment, caressing a backhand return down the line for a winner. That’s all he’s got though. Murray holds with the next point.
Stop the presses! Andy Murray has failed with a lob! And doesn’t Groth love it, pounding it down with a big forehand smash at the net to let out all of that pent-up frustration. A few seconds later he blasts a 227kmph ace to go up 40-0 and surely now he’ll get on the board... He does, lifting his arms into the air in triumph and drawing a stirring ovation from the home crowd.
Stop the presses! Andy Murray has failed with a lob! And doesn’t Groth love it, pounding it down with a big forehand smash at the net to let out all of that pent-up frustration. A few seconds later he blasts a 227kmph ace to go up 40-0 and surely now he’ll get on the board... He does, lifting his arms into the air in triumph and drawing a stirring ovation from the home crowd.
Perhaps I’m focusing too much on Groth’s dirty day and not enough on Murray’s clinical efficiency so far. He hasn’t lost a point on his first serve yet and Groth’s won only 2 receiving points. That is brutal. Murray holds again in a love game. Does he have to be somewhere?
Murray 2-0 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 1-0
Everything’s a battle for Groth today but there’s no shortage of love for the local from the Rod Laver Arena crowd. They love the underdog today. He cracks a resounding ace to pull himself back to 30-30 but immediately coughs up a fourth break point. I think we all know how that plays out.
The No2 seed picks up in the second set how he left off in the first, spearing a big first serve wide to win the first point and curling another impeccable lob over the advancing Groth to make it 30-0. It’s all over very briefly in the first service game. Close to cruelty so far, this one.
Finally a little bit of momentum on serve for Groth now when he out-positions Murray and forces him into an error to make it 30-0 before haring into the net with an forehand smash to set up three game points. Murray’s not going to hand it to him and lobs expertly again for two winners and fights back to deuce. Oh dear. The unforced error count? 13-3 and I think you know which is which. The local is being made to look a fool at the net, where he’s won only 4 of 19 points, and Murray breaks again to take out the first set in 29 minutes. Groth earns the dreaded bagel.
It’s all far easier for Murray on serve and he fires down his second ace to set up game point before Groth shanks a backhand miles past the baseline to concede a love game. Groth’s got an ice-filled towel around his neck at the change-over and ‘Blurred Lines’ is playing over the PA. The Aussie is playing more like he’s got blurred vision at the minute.
1st set: *Murray 4-0 Groth (* denotes next server)
Thump! Murray launches into Groth’s second serve with a crisp backhand winner across court so the Aussie is immediately under the cosh. At 30-30 Murray makes another move to set up a second break point but the Aussie unleashes a big second serve to keep himself in it and it’s a good five minutes of toing and froing from there until Groth buckles to concede the break. He’s having to scrap for every point here and it’s not going well.
Elsewhere, Milos Raonic leads Tommy Robredo 7-6, 2-2 over on Show Court 2 and Jelena Jankovic is up 6-3, 2-2 on German Laura Siegemund.
Murray quickly moves to 30-0 on serve but briefly loses his service motion to send down a double fault. No matter, a point later he’s looping another gorgeous backhand lob over Groth and holds thanks to an unforced error from the local lad. Groth sits down and shakes his head as he chomps on a banana.
The Scot is switched on here and when Groth approaches the net he’s soon watching a lob fly over his head to take the opening point on the Australian’s serve. Groth hasn’t quite found his mojo on serve and finds himself stretching at thin air when a big backhand return from Murray flies by him. The Aussie nets a forehand volley to gift wrap the early break.
Aaand we’re off with a brief rally, ended when Groth gets a little overzealous with a deep backhand and then with a forehand volley at the net to make it 30-0. Murray soon wraps up a love service game, which sets off those four blokes who come along to sing at his matches. They had a pop at me the other day for misinterpreting their lyrics so I’ll be listening very closely today. This is my promise to them and you, dear readers.
And I suppose it’s no huge shock in his home slam, but the biggest cheer is reserved for Groth. It’s currently 22 degrees and mild here at Melbourne Park, by the way. Not to count any chickens before they hatch but that’s ideal for Murray’s campaign.
The toss
...is lost by Groth so Murray will serve first.
Hello tennis fans and welcome to day four of the Australian Openand this second-round encounter between No2 seed Andy Murray and Australia’s big-serving Sam Groth, the Newcombe medalist who once took a break from the game to try his hand at Australian rules football. Tough as teak, Groth is.
But does anyone really expect him to pull off a miracle here? I’ve got my doubts. They’ll enter the arena shortly following the Flipkens-Muruguza match, which was taken out 6-4, 6-2 by the latter a short time ago. Elswewhere Victoria Azarenka has dispatched Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2, Gael Monfils has prevailed in straight sets over countryman Nicolas Mahut and Anna Ivanovic has made short work of Anastasija Sevastova.
Groth, meanwhile, grabs his bags, grimaces and heads for the tunnel. He’ll have better days than this one. That’s all from us for this one but stop by for more live action tonight as Lleyton Hewitt takes on David Ferrer.
Murray wins in straight sets! 6-0, 6-4, 6-1
3rd set: *Murray 6-1 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray wins it 3-0
Groth keeps fighting to the last, bless him, and also added injury to insult in the final game, wrenching his ankle advancing to the net. He’s tough though, like I said, and a last-second retirement was never on the cards so he sticks with it until the Scott fires down an ace to close it out. He’s through to the third round!
Murray 5-1 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
This is all unravelling very quickly for Groth, who stumbles on serve to hand over three break points, the first of which sees Murray launch another audacious lob. It’s long and Groth serves and volleys well to save the next too before spearing a big firsts serve down the line to level it at deuce. And then...Murray breaks. He’ll serve for the match.
4-1 Groth* (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Groth’s certainly not just lying down here and atatcks Murray’s serve at every opportunity, which is fine until a forehand return goes spearing away at right angles to concede the game. It’s a matter of time now, this one. The Aussie put up a fight in the second set but he’s clearly outmatched.
Murray 3-1 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
It’s probably a nice break from monster waves and shark-punching for Mick Fanning as he sits in the crowd for this match, though his compatriot Groth isn’t quite reaching such world-beating heights. Still, he holds here in a love game to get on the board in this third set.
Murray 3-0 Groth* (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
A 213kmph ace puts Murray at 30-15 and I guess that’s a decent point at which to look at some stats. Murray has hit 24 winners to Groth’s 16 but the unforced error count is more telling; 26 to the Australian and only 8 to Murray. Groth digs in here but Murray eventually holds with a brief shake of the head. He marks himself harshly.
Elsewhere Laura Siegemund has fought back to take the second set 7-6 against Jelena Jankovic, who won the first 6-3, while Milos Raonic leads Tommy Robredo 7-6, 7-6, 1-1.
Murray 2-0 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Bang! Murray stretches himself to full extension to clatter a backhand winner past Groth on his return and sets up three break points in no time. The Aussie calls for a towel, mops his sweaty brow and though he’s full of energy in a spirited rally he can’t stop Murray breaking his serve.
Murray 1-0 Groth* (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Murray returns with more strong stuff, thumping his way through another straightforward service game and I guess you’d hope that Groth doesn’t just fold now. He put in a decent shift in the second set.
Murray 6-4 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 2-0
Here’s a test for Groth because he’s lost his serve plenty of times already in this match and if he does here he’ll be two sets down despite a valiant fightback. Perhaps he’s feeling that pressure when he double faults to make it 15-30. Either way Murray pounces, rifling a big backhand winner down the line to set up two set points. Groth saves the first but sends a drop volley wide to concede the set. That’s a shame. He’s worked his butt off to come back into this but it’s to no avail.
It’s not quite panic stations for the No2 seed but he does get very lucky when Groth’s able to smash another of his lobs but its close enough to Murray that he can strike a defensive backhand winner down the line to lead 30-0. He steadies again and thumps a big ace to seal the game.
The Australian is riding a wave of momentum now and belts a confident cross-court forehand to establish a 30-0 buffer on serve and soon holds to the delight of the crowd. Reader Jim Denvir has a valid question from earlier: “Is it my imagination, or does Murray lob more frequently the taller his opponent is?” he asks. Might be something in that.
Groth really takes it to Murray here, firing a big forehand past the stretching Scot to make it 15-30 and then there’s a break opportunity when Murray sends a curling cross-court forehand into the net. And would you believe it, he takes it when Murray cracks a backhand long! The crowd is loving it. Groth was being beaten up ten minutes ago but now he’s throwing a few punches of his own.
More fighting from Groth, who slams down another big ace – his third to Murray’s four – to go up 30-0 and soon has three game points to hold. He does! he’s on fire, the Australian.Normal service resumes now with Murray exerting a minimalist, ruthless control over this service game to reach 40-0 before Groth has another nice mini-moment, caressing a backhand return down the line for a winner. That’s all he’s got though. Murray holds with the next point.
Stop the presses! Andy Murray has failed with a lob! And doesn’t Groth love it, pounding it down with a big forehand smash at the net to let out all of that pent-up frustration. A few seconds later he blasts a 227kmph ace to go up 40-0 and surely now he’ll get on the board... He does, lifting his arms into the air in triumph and drawing a stirring ovation from the home crowd.
Stop the presses! Andy Murray has failed with a lob! And doesn’t Groth love it, pounding it down with a big forehand smash at the net to let out all of that pent-up frustration. A few seconds later he blasts a 227kmph ace to go up 40-0 and surely now he’ll get on the board... He does, lifting his arms into the air in triumph and drawing a stirring ovation from the home crowd.
Perhaps I’m focusing too much on Groth’s dirty day and not enough on Murray’s clinical efficiency so far. He hasn’t lost a point on his first serve yet and Groth’s won only 2 receiving points. That is brutal. Murray holds again in a love game. Does he have to be somewhere?
Murray 2-0 Groth (* denotes next server) Murray leads 1-0
Everything’s a battle for Groth today but there’s no shortage of love for the local from the Rod Laver Arena crowd. They love the underdog today. He cracks a resounding ace to pull himself back to 30-30 but immediately coughs up a fourth break point. I think we all know how that plays out.
The No2 seed picks up in the second set how he left off in the first, spearing a big first serve wide to win the first point and curling another impeccable lob over the advancing Groth to make it 30-0. It’s all over very briefly in the first service game. Close to cruelty so far, this one.
Finally a little bit of momentum on serve for Groth now when he out-positions Murray and forces him into an error to make it 30-0 before haring into the net with an forehand smash to set up three game points. Murray’s not going to hand it to him and lobs expertly again for two winners and fights back to deuce. Oh dear. The unforced error count? 13-3 and I think you know which is which. The local is being made to look a fool at the net, where he’s won only 4 of 19 points, and Murray breaks again to take out the first set in 29 minutes. Groth earns the dreaded bagel.
It’s all far easier for Murray on serve and he fires down his second ace to set up game point before Groth shanks a backhand miles past the baseline to concede a love game. Groth’s got an ice-filled towel around his neck at the change-over and ‘Blurred Lines’ is playing over the PA. The Aussie is playing more like he’s got blurred vision at the minute.
1st set: *Murray 4-0 Groth (* denotes next server)
Thump! Murray launches into Groth’s second serve with a crisp backhand winner across court so the Aussie is immediately under the cosh. At 30-30 Murray makes another move to set up a second break point but the Aussie unleashes a big second serve to keep himself in it and it’s a good five minutes of toing and froing from there until Groth buckles to concede the break. He’s having to scrap for every point here and it’s not going well.
Elsewhere, Milos Raonic leads Tommy Robredo 7-6, 2-2 over on Show Court 2 and Jelena Jankovic is up 6-3, 2-2 on German Laura Siegemund.
Murray quickly moves to 30-0 on serve but briefly loses his service motion to send down a double fault. No matter, a point later he’s looping another gorgeous backhand lob over Groth and holds thanks to an unforced error from the local lad. Groth sits down and shakes his head as he chomps on a banana.
The Scot is switched on here and when Groth approaches the net he’s soon watching a lob fly over his head to take the opening point on the Australian’s serve. Groth hasn’t quite found his mojo on serve and finds himself stretching at thin air when a big backhand return from Murray flies by him. The Aussie nets a forehand volley to gift wrap the early break.
Aaand we’re off with a brief rally, ended when Groth gets a little overzealous with a deep backhand and then with a forehand volley at the net to make it 30-0. Murray soon wraps up a love service game, which sets off those four blokes who come along to sing at his matches. They had a pop at me the other day for misinterpreting their lyrics so I’ll be listening very closely today. This is my promise to them and you, dear readers.
And I suppose it’s no huge shock in his home slam, but the biggest cheer is reserved for Groth. It’s currently 22 degrees and mild here at Melbourne Park, by the way. Not to count any chickens before they hatch but that’s ideal for Murray’s campaign.
The toss
...is lost by Groth so Murray will serve first.
Hello tennis fans and welcome to day four of the Australian Openand this second-round encounter between No2 seed Andy Murray and Australia’s big-serving Sam Groth, the Newcombe medalist who once took a break from the game to try his hand at Australian rules football. Tough as teak, Groth is.
But does anyone really expect him to pull off a miracle here? I’ve got my doubts. They’ll enter the arena shortly following the Flipkens-Muruguza match, which was taken out 6-4, 6-2 by the latter a short time ago. Elswewhere Victoria Azarenka has dispatched Danka Kovinic 6-1, 6-2, Gael Monfils has prevailed in straight sets over countryman Nicolas Mahut and Anna Ivanovic has made short work of Anastasija Sevastova.
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