Live - Murray v Cilic
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Live video - Murray v Cilic (UK only)
Murray 5-5* Cilic
Murray had a little moan at the umpire during the changeover, about what, I don’t know. Murray directs a beauty of a topspin forehand onto the sideline, which even clay-court coach Alex Corretja applauds, and we’re all square.
Murray *4-5 Cilic
Cilic smacks a forehand down the line to wrap up the game. It looks kind of awkward, Cilic’s forehand, with an enormous take-back - but boy, is it effective. It’s 25 points each in this set. That’s how even it is.
Murray 4-4* Cilic
There’s Murray’s first drop shot of the day, drawing Cilic in and then half-volleying a crosscourt forehand to set up the winner. Classic Murray there, completely outmanoeuvring his opponent. A comfortable hold to 15.
Murray *3-4 Cilic
Another beauty of a serve down the middle which Murray can’t reach and Cilic holds. Listen, people, I am powerful but I do not control the TV schedules. I can only apologise profusely about the earlier confusion and pass on your comments. Let’s try to move on…
Murray 3-3* Cilic
A hold to 30 for Murray, who is now gracing the BBC2 screens. This has the look of a long match, both players looking good. Dinara Safina already 6-1 up on Aravane Rezai.
Murray *2-3 Cilic
Cilic double-faults for the first time to allow Murray a bit of hope at 40-30 but the big Croat then fires down an ace. His first serve percentage is 72%, Murray’s 50%.
Murray 2-2* Cilic
Murray holds to love and we appear to be into some sort of rhythm after that early exchange of breaks.
Murray *1-2 Cilic
Big serve down the ‘T’ skims off Murray’s racquet and the Croat holds to 30.
Murray 1-1* Cilic
Murray double-faults to hand Cilic an immediate chance to break back - and he takes it with a superb return at the Scot’s feet. As you were then.
Murray *1-0 Cilic
Murray races out into a 30-0 lead but then dumps a weak backhand slice into the net. He rifles a two-hander cross-court to earn two break points, and though Cilic saves one with a forehand onto the line, Murray plays some fabulous defensive tennis to take the break. Very good start from the Brit, looks very lively.
* Denotes NEXT to serve
1208: Andy Murray munches on a banana after going through the warm-up, which is odd because I’m sure he once called them a “ridiculous fruit”. He must have succumbed to the charms of the banana. Cilic to serve first.
1204: Ay ay ay. I can only apologise folks. Even I have become completely bamboozled by the TV coverage. Apparently, it will start at 1230 BST on BBC2. It is live on the Red Button now, of that I can assure you. And here on the website. And on BBC Radio 5 Live. Again, I apologise.
1200: The head-to-head reads 2-0 in favour of Andy Murray, who beat Cilic in Madrid last year and in the Davis Cup in 2007. Neither of those matches were on clay though and Cilic did beat Murray in the French Open junior semi-finals in 2005.
1157: And I’ll tell you who else is yet to drop a set at Roland Garros and that’s Marin Cilic, beating Jan Hernych, Dudi Sela and Radek Stepanek. Andy Murray has dropped just the one set, against Potito Starace in the second round.
1152: Fernando Gonzalez awaits the winner of the Murray-Cilic match after an impressive 6-4 6-2 6-2 win over Victor Hanescu. The Chilean is yet to drop a set.
1149: Well done, Dominika Cibulkova, holding her nerve to close out a 6-2 6-4 win over Agnes Szavay. And that also means it’s Murray o’clock. Coverage will be on BBC2 at 1230 BST, streamed here (UK only) and on BBC 5 Live.
1148: Hannah James goes out of the girls’ singles 7-5 6-3 to fourth seed Timea Babos. Boo.
From Zane, Cardiff, via text on 81111: “Even if Murray does get past Cilic, things are looking ominous for him already with Gonzalez in top form. I predict a close match today with Murray scraping through in four sets.”
1141: Dominika Cibulkova has a match point… but Agnes Szavay saves it with another serve-volley, this time successful. Cibulkova will now serve for it again at 5-4, and given than she has never reached a Grand Slam quarter-final, I imagine there will be a few nerves here.
1133: Hang on, Murray fans. Agnes Szavay has broken back. She now trails 5-3.
From FranMerida on 606: “My prediction for the Murray match: Cilic will play the better tennis, but Murray’s tenacity and massive stamina will see him through where he’ll probably be destroyed by Gonzalez: Murray def. Cilic 3-6 7-5 4-6 7-6 6-1″
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1126: Agnes Szavay is unravelling. Quickly. She trails Dominika Cibulkova 5-2 in the second set - and it could be Murray-time in one game.
1118: What’s this? Agnes Szavay tries serve-volleying. Almost inevitably, she puts a very shaky volley into the tramlines and is quickly broken for the second time to trail 3-2. As I predicted, this will be over in straight sets. Meanwhile, Gonzo now two sets and a break to the good against Hanescu.
1113: Oh Hannah. Hannah, Hannah, Hannah. Britain’s Hannah James broke back in the first set against fourth seed Timea Babos to make it 5-5 but then immediately dropped serve again and lost it 7-5. She now trails 4-0 in the second.
1107: Super point from Dominika Cibulkova. She looks completely out of it with Agnes Szavay hogging the net but manages to scamper across the court and put up a lob before drawing Szavay back in and passing cross-court. Lovely. Szavay promptly double-faults twice in a row and we’re back on serve.
From jeranberan on 606: “Re 1052: Fret ye not, Caroline. I think most of us HAVE got our heads around Coverage-gate as everyone’s been harping on about it since yesterday. Basically switch the telly on and look for the orange court. Simple.”
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1102: By the way, the winner of Fernando Gonzalez-Victor Hanescu plays Andy Murray or Marin Cilic next. It’s on serve in the second set at 3-3. Agnes Szavay has a break at the start of the second set and she leads 2-0.
1052: Still some confusion about the TV coverage today, which I completely understand as it is a bit difficult to get one’s head round. So here we go: as usual, the day’s play is on the Red Button (but only for satellite and cable viewers today because there’s an awful lot of other sport on). But Andy Murray’s match will begin on BBC2, and then switch to BBC1 at 1300 BST. Cibulkova takes the opening set against Szavay, so we are potentially one set away from Murray-time. But it’s going three sets, I assure you.
1046: Fernando Gonzalez has already blasted his way to the first set against Victor Hanescu. Agnes Szavay is having an awful time at the moment, but she pegs Dominika Cibulkova back to 5-2. I’m telling you: three sets.
From roobs888 on 606: “Who else thinks that the Davydenko/Verdasco match-up is the most enticing of today’s men’s matches? Tough one to call. Am trying to work out which would give Rafa the sterner test.”
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1035: Yesterday, we learned that apparently Dominika Cibulkova used to go out with Gael Monfils and is now seeing Jurgen Melzer. I can now reveal that her favourite food is: small dumplings with cheese. Yum. Agnes Szavay now on the board and 4-1 down. Fernando Gonzalez is 5-1 up on Victor Hanescu.
1029: D Britton is playing like a Briton. Already 5-0 down. Sorry. Too obvious. Anyway, there is a real-life Brit in action: Hannah James opens her junior campaign against Hungarian fourth seed Timea Babos. Rest assured, I’ll keep you up to date with that.
From tgsgirl on 606: “There’s a D. Britton playing on Court 3 right now… but he’s American. Likewise, I. Holland on court 16 is Australian. That’s just wrong.”
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1023: Dominika Cibulkova has rattled into a 3-0 lead over Venus-slayer Agnes Szavay. I’m going for three sets here. Over on Phillipe Chatrier, Fernando Gonzalez is also 3-0 up - over Victor Hanescu.
1020: I am being literally bombarded (not literally) by questions about the TV coverage. The tennis is on the Red Button for satellite and cable viewers, but not on Freeview. Don’t fret Freeviewers, you will not miss Andy Murray. Can we talk about tennis now?
1013: If you manually refresh this page, all your dreams will come true… if those dreams are watching live coverage of Agnes Szavay v Dominika Cibulkova. And you are dreaming in the UK.
1008: If you can’t get to BBC2 for Murray-watch, you’ve got live streaming right here on this website (only in the UK) or commentary on BBC 5 Live. Failing that, you’re stuck with me I’m afraid.
1005: Righto, here’s your first ‘Andy Murray coverage’ heads up: the match will begin on BBC2 at 1130, 1200 or 1230 BST (depending on when it actually starts). It will then move to BBC1 at 1300 BST. Comprende?
0959: It’s Sunday, the weather is gorgeous, and yet still there’s no getting people to their seats on time at Roland Garros. I can see about 20 people scattered around Court Suzanne Lenglen for the start of Agnes Szavay’s fourth-round match against Dominika Cibulkova. This match will be followed by Andy Murray v Marin Cilic. Or Marian Cilic as my colleague called him yesterday.
0955: Good morning. I’m in a surprisingly good mood, all things considered. No idea why. I think I am buoyed by seeing Diversity stop the Boyle juggernaut. Ooh, and the prospect of watching some cracking tennis of course.
Source: bbc.co.uk/
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