Andy Murray Cruises Past Juan Ignacio Chela and Into the Second Round
Andy Murray has cruised into the second round at Roland Garros after a crushing three-set win over Juan Ignacio Chela
Andy Murray began his third French Open campaign, having missed the tournament in 2007 when he injured his wrist in Germany, without having to extend himself beyond the routine complexities that clay presents. Murray is learning day by day, match by match, year by year, and is confident it will not be long before he is able to mount a concerted challenge for this title. His 6–2, 6–2, 6–1 victory over Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina, a former quarter-finalist at Roland Garros, underlined both his progress on the surface and the nature of his rise towards the top of the game in the last 12 months.
"It was a very good win for me. I needed to play well against a player like Chela and I did," said Murray, who frequently drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd. "They love it when you play with a bit of flair."
The French introduced a Sunday start to the French Open two years ago, principally to squeeze in an extra day's television revenue, though none of the other slams has followed suit. At first there was some reluctance among the public to get themselves to the Bois de Boulogne in time for a morning start, though the crowds were good yesterday. Murray, the world No3, was the fourth on Court Suzanne Lenglen, beginning the match in what will become his accustomed tea-time spot at Wimbledon in four weeks' time.
Chela, who suffered a herniated disc last year and missed eight months from the end of the French Open to this February, has been struggling to find any sort of form and Murray made sure he extended him physically from the start despite losing his opening service game. The first three games lasted 17 minutes, Murray establishing a 2-1 lead and, halfway through the opening set, the Argentinian was clearly struggling physically in the late afternoon heat.
Murray, by comparison, was playing well within himself, other than having to improvise a few squash shots when Chela forced him wide on the forehand. A running smash brought loud applause from a crowd who clearly enjoying Murray's greater variety and touch. Chela, who won their first ever meeting in the first round of the 2006 Australian Open, but who has now lost the last four, has a solid, uncomplicated style and can jolt his opponents with the power of his ground-strokes, even though he is generally undone by the top players.
Murray, whose next opponent will be Mischa Zverev of Germany, or Italy's Potito Starace, who meet today, is now very much part of that category, even on clay. He won the first set in 38 minutes and then headed for the line with an ease born of complete confidence – a drop shot here, a winning volley there and a beautifully executed lob that soared with the pigeons to fall inside the baseline with absolute precision. Of course there were missed opportunities, but Murray could afford himself the luxury of occasional over-elaboration. It was pretty much the perfect start with minimum energy expended.
The same could not be said for Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, the former Wimbledon and US Open champion, who came back from two sets down against Ivo Karlovic. The Croat served 55 aces, the highest number since the ATP began keeping a record of such things in 1991, though the all-comers' highest count is 59, set by Ed Kauder of the United States at the US championships at Forest Hills in 1955.And how did Hewitt win under such a barrage? "Don't know" was his honest answer.
"It was a very good win for me. I needed to play well against a player like Chela and I did," said Murray, who frequently drew an enthusiastic response from the crowd. "They love it when you play with a bit of flair."
The French introduced a Sunday start to the French Open two years ago, principally to squeeze in an extra day's television revenue, though none of the other slams has followed suit. At first there was some reluctance among the public to get themselves to the Bois de Boulogne in time for a morning start, though the crowds were good yesterday. Murray, the world No3, was the fourth on Court Suzanne Lenglen, beginning the match in what will become his accustomed tea-time spot at Wimbledon in four weeks' time.
Chela, who suffered a herniated disc last year and missed eight months from the end of the French Open to this February, has been struggling to find any sort of form and Murray made sure he extended him physically from the start despite losing his opening service game. The first three games lasted 17 minutes, Murray establishing a 2-1 lead and, halfway through the opening set, the Argentinian was clearly struggling physically in the late afternoon heat.
Murray, by comparison, was playing well within himself, other than having to improvise a few squash shots when Chela forced him wide on the forehand. A running smash brought loud applause from a crowd who clearly enjoying Murray's greater variety and touch. Chela, who won their first ever meeting in the first round of the 2006 Australian Open, but who has now lost the last four, has a solid, uncomplicated style and can jolt his opponents with the power of his ground-strokes, even though he is generally undone by the top players.
Murray, whose next opponent will be Mischa Zverev of Germany, or Italy's Potito Starace, who meet today, is now very much part of that category, even on clay. He won the first set in 38 minutes and then headed for the line with an ease born of complete confidence – a drop shot here, a winning volley there and a beautifully executed lob that soared with the pigeons to fall inside the baseline with absolute precision. Of course there were missed opportunities, but Murray could afford himself the luxury of occasional over-elaboration. It was pretty much the perfect start with minimum energy expended.
The same could not be said for Australia's Lleyton Hewitt, the former Wimbledon and US Open champion, who came back from two sets down against Ivo Karlovic. The Croat served 55 aces, the highest number since the ATP began keeping a record of such things in 1991, though the all-comers' highest count is 59, set by Ed Kauder of the United States at the US championships at Forest Hills in 1955.And how did Hewitt win under such a barrage? "Don't know" was his honest answer.
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