TENNIS Master 1000 Madrid – Andy Murray rallied from a second-set loss to take a 6-1 1-6 6-4 win over Nicolas Almagro in a tough second round match at the Madrid Mutua Open at the Caja Magic (the Magic Box). Diego Sampaolo
Interviews, results, order of play and draws of the Mutua Madrid Open
Murray returned to the court for his first match since the Davis Cup quarter final between Italy and Great Britain on clay in Naples. He is playing in his first ATP clay tournament since Rome last year.
Murray stormed to a easy 5-0 in the opening set en route to winning it with 6-1 in just 34 minutes. In the first set the Scotsman lost just three points on serve before closing it out with an ace. Murray looked to be in control of the match but Almagro, semifinalist in Barcelona last month, turned around the match winning the second set with the same score of 6-1 thanks to a series of winners. Almagro, who broke Rafael Nadal’s 41 match winning streak in Barcelona last April, broke serve three times to wrap up the second set wit 6-1. Almagro was strong on serve winning 15 consecutive service points. Murray had to save three break points in the decisive set. Murray managed to hold serve to take a 5.4 lead before breaking in the final game for 6-4.
Murray fended off two break points at 1-1 in the third set before breaking serve in the tenth game for 6-4
“I hung in and got the job done. He is a very tough opponent to beat on this surface. It was a tough match because Almagro was going for bombs on every shot, serving huge and ripping winners from the back of the court”, said Murray
At the end of the match he signed the camera with “Bally” to pay tribute to former British number one player Elena Baltacha, who died of liver cancer
“It has been a tough ten days or so. I had an idea of what was going on with Elena because my mom is obviously very close with her and her husband”, said an emotional Murray
Murray set up a third round match against Barcelona finalist Santiago Giraldo who upset Jo Wilfred Tsonga
In a potential semifinal Murray could face Rafa Nadal who swept aside Juan Monaco 6-1 6-0 earlier in the day.
