Andy Murray after turning things around against Robin Haase
Friday in New York
It was exhausting…
Agony and ecstasy
It doesn’t get any easier for Andy Murray fans. He’s either sublimely good, or sometimes, sublimely bad, mainly because he’s beating himself up rather than his opponent. Cue a lot of hair-tugging, swiping and swatting, and then, suddenly, big come on’s, fist pumps, even a leap or two in the air.
Which is exactly what happened last night against the curly top Robin Haase. The Dutchman did exactly what we thought he would do – served big and hit bigger from the back of the court. And Murray did, just nothing. Couldn’t get a ball in the court for two sets.
The world No 4 was left staring at the fact that he would have to come back from a two-set deficit for the sixth time in his career, or else head for JFK. And so, he did. Found some energy from I don’t know where, and basically fought himself silly to win 13 games on the trot, survive a Haase fightback, miss two match points (prompting one Italian journalist to yell ‘Ah, idiota!’) and finally come through by the car crash scoreline of 6-7 (5), 2-6, 6-2, 6-0, 6-4.
His reaction at the end – grinning and almost giggling as he pogo-sticked around the court, said it all. Might this just be the making of Andy Murray’s US Open? We shall see. Deliciano Lopez is up next.
If the Brits have it bad…
Try being an Australian. Sam Stosur, she of immense talent, potential and one of the nicest accents around, won the longest US Open women’s match of the Open era as she battled and tussled her way past a bicep-bragging Nadia Petrova, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (5-7), 7-5 in three hours and 16 minutes. Imagine the ice bath after that.
Amongst all the kerfuffle
Four other British players made it into the third round, albeit of the men’s doubles…Jonnny Marray and Jamie Delgado survived a three-set thriller, and Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins knocked out the No 2 seeds. Fab.
Over and out
Maria Sharapova. Flavia Pennetta played the match of her life to oust the former champion in three sets. Admittedly, Sharapova made it easier for her, producing a staggering 60 unforced errors, but Pennetta still needed to Hold Her Nerve, as we like to say.
“One of best wins of my career,” Pennetta said. “We fight lot, play really good. At 4-1 up started to shake a little. Just tried to focus.”
So what next for Masha? Losing the Wimbledon final, and now this? Thomas had better start practising his pep talks.
Bizarrely, depending on how everyone else does, Sharapova could still end the tournament as the world No 2. Make of that what you will.
Where did that come from?
Donald Young, the jaunty-angled cap-wearing American, with a fondness for a bit of bling, dumped out the 14th seed, Stanislas Wawrinka, 7-6 (7), 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (1) victory in 4 hours, 20 minutes on the new court 17. Like, wow.
Young, a former junior No 1, has been one of these perennial ‘is he ever going to make it?’ sort of players, who, ever since beating Andy Murray mid-slump at Indian Wells, has started to do just that.
His celebrations alone showed just how much it meant to him. And to others as well…
@sloanetweets: “Donald Young did that!!! I’m VERY proud 
Keep an eye on
Sabine Lisicki. ‘Boom Boom’, as she is becoming known, bagel-sticked Irina Falconi to reach her first ever US Open fourth round. Anticipation is building for a collision with Serena. Which of course means it might not happen. But keep an eye just the same.
More on the sick bed
Nicolas Mahut became the latest player to head to the Billie Jean King infirmary, retiring against Rafael Nadal. One half of a doubles team retired yesterday as well.
Still alive
Andy Roddick, Sam Stosur, Vera Zvonareva, David Ferrer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Rafael Nadal, John Isner.
Tweet of the day
“Bloody nora… @judmoo your lad mad us all a bit twitchy there. Well done @andy_murray amazing match.”
@gaby_logan on being an Andy-fan
Coming up this evening…
Novak Djokovic v Nikolay Davydenko
ND v ND. Present v past. And realistically, it’s only going to end one way.
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga v Fernando Verdasco
Hold onto your power tools. This is going to be a big-hitting fest, one which the Frenchman should sneak.
Victoria Azarenka v Serena Williams
It seems very strange to think that it was a full three years ago that Azarenka had the running of Serena in their Australian Open meeting before having to retire. Not a lot has changed – Serena is still the favourite. But this should be her first big test.
Sloane Stephens v Ana Ivanovic
An audience with American for the young Stephens, who will show us if Ana really has the goods to make it back up to the top. Watch out for her serve.
Also in action
Roger Federer v Marin Cilic, Mardy Fish v Kevin Anderson, Tomas Berdych v Janko Tipsarevic, Jelena Jankovic v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
The daily click
The Federer twins. Too cute.
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