Murray Struggles To Reach Quarters

Top seed Scotsman Andy Murray struggled to hold serve but rallied behind a strong third set to escape American qualifier Tim Smyczek with a 6-1, 4-6. 6-2 win. With every match Murray plays, it seems his level of play fluctuates according to his level of concentration.

The Scotsman does not seem to possess the killer instinct the sport’s other elite players show. Murray, who entered as a wildcard when Novak Djokovic was forced to withdraw, was faultless in the first set. All cylinders were clicking and it looked like he would be off the court in 45 minutes.

Instead, Murray, who lost just two service points in the first set, lost his serve four times in the second and third sets to raise questions about his readiness for this event. Smyczek took advantage of the letdown before Murray pulled himself together in the third set. It was Murray’s first match since Wimbledon. He had been in the midst of a fitness program in Miami before he accepted the invite to LA.

In his quarterfinal match, Murray will face Alejandro Falla. The Colombian reached his second quarterfinal of the year with a hard-earned upset of 5th seed Ernesto Gulbis 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (8). Falla finally converted on his fifth match point against the tenacious 21-year old who was playing his first match since a hamstring injury at Roland Garros.

American James Blake showed flashes of yesteryear against German star Benjamin Becker. Blake has been fighting to climb back into the top twenty but has not found the right formula yet. The 117th ranked Blake showed newfound consistency in his 7-5, 7-6 (5) upset of the Becker.

Blake’s first round win over Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer was his first in a Sony Ericsson event since March. The American will have his hands full in the quarters against Spain’s 4th seeded Feliciano Lopez who is just one of a cluster of talented Spaniards. Lopez was tested by Israel’s Dudi Sela but won the key points in the 7-6 (2), 6-4 triumph.

Sela cold not handle the lefthander’s spin and combined with 12 aces, Lopez has made the adjustment to the hard court with ease. Sela could not convert the only break point he gained.

In today’s other quarterfinal matches, second seed Sam Querrey will face Germany’s Rainer Schuettler. In the match of the day, journeyman third seed Marcos Baghdatis will face Serbia newest sensation 6th seed Janko Tipsarevic.

Related Articles