Murray Rides Rollercoaster to Third Round of French Open

Andy Murray reached the third round of the French Open, equalling last year's best performance at Roland Garros, with a 6-3, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over Italy's Potito Starace in two hours 40 minutes of sharply fluctuating tennis from the world No3. The Italian served well and produced some beautifully disguised drop shots, though whereas his level remained constant, Murray was on a roller coaster.

Initially everything went Murray's way. There was nothing spectacular about his play, simply controlled tennis that was far too good for Starace. It was a grey, cool morning, with only a scattering of fans in the Philippe Chatrier stadium where Murray had made his French Open debut three years ago, losing against France's Gaël Monfils. The Italian's serve was under pressure as early as the third game, the most damage he managed to do Murray when he hit a smash into his back after Murray had tried a lob, which had no depth.

The atmosphere bordered on the somnolent, this having all the makings of a routine victory for the No3 seed against a player ranked outside the top 100, and with only five previous wins at this level in 14 slams, all but one coming on the Roland Garros clay. Perhaps Murray was inclined to think it was going to be a walk in the Bois de Boulogne. The first set was done and dusted in 31 largely undemanding minutes, with Murray performing well within himself and Starace seemingly unable to alter the pattern.

Murray fretted over a ball he thought was out at the beginning of the second set but recovered from 15-40 down on his serve for a 6-3, 1-0 lead. There were small signs that Starace was beginning to get a little more fired up, though no concrete indication that Murray's game was about to unravel rather alarmingly. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, he began to miss badly, chastising himself, though could not prevent his opponent gaining succor and drawing level. If that was bad enough, then worse was to follow with a strangely enfeebled Murray going 5-1 down in the third set after winning just two games out of 13. He also fell rather heavily as he lost his balance, but no harm was done.

He saved a set point, then broke Starace's serve for the first time since the opening set. Finally there was a response from Murray, though he had to save another set point at 5-3. The match had turned, his energy levels were back, and Starace was finished.