by Kingsley Elliot Kaye
Perhaps the fireworks on court were not as many as expected, at least in the opening games, yet it was quite an enthralling match. Could Andy Murray really have won it with the odds being in his favour during a few crucial moments?
The players got off to a breezy start, not really testing each other to the utmost. Murray always held serve comfortably in spite of a low first serve percentage, just over 50%. He failed to convert 3 break points for a 3-1 lead and another in the fifth game.
The players went on hand in hand, displaying classy flagship shots now and again – a millimetric lob by Murray was memorable – not to mention the dropshots churned out by Bublik from any position and a delightful forehand half-volley which got him out of trouble in the 11th game.
The set was decided by a tiebreaker. At 6 games all Murray had won four points more than his opponent while Bublik had displayed better service yields.
Murray got an early minibreak at 2-1 but let Bublik back in with a double fault, followed by a forehand dumped into the net. Unforced errors followed on both sides and Murray faced two set points at 4-6.
He saved the first with an outstanding backhand passing shot on the run, then held his two serves to earn his first set point at 7-6. Bublik erased it with a forehand winner down the line but gifted a second set point with a double fault, which Murray failed to take, hitting a backhand way too long.
Bublik saved a third set point by wrong footing Murray with a curling forehand on the line and from then on succeeded in raising his consistency, putting pressure on Murray, to finish off the set 11-9 with a swinging crosscourt forehand.
At the start of the second set Bublik strove to consolidate his lead and immediately earned a break point with a backhand drop shot but Murray saved it with a perfectly placed smash.
At 2-1 Bublik tried to steal the pace from Murray with sliced forehand returns and rushed to a 0-30 lead.
With 46% of first serves Murray was clearly struggling. Bublik set up his breakthrough magnificently with a curly forehand dropshot that got him an easy passing shot on Murray’s desperate run to the net.
The next point Murray buried a seemingly easy midcourt forehand into the net, conceding the break.
From then on Bublik maintained his hold on the match, bombing down aces and beating the wind out of the Scot with continuous dropshots and wrongfooting.
In the fifth game Murray displayed all his fighting spirit to dig his way out of the hole, avoiding a double break. In the 7th game he still poses a last threat building up a love -30 lead on Bublik’s serve, which the Kazakian brushed away with thundering serves and a serve and volley foray.
After a good service game by Murray Bublik was serving for the match and did not falter. He actually did it his way, punching and tickling, hammering down winning serves, finishing with a flourish, an umpteenth dropshot, an angled crosscourt forehand delight.
The tight first set Murray was so close to winning and the way our favourite Sir went on battling in the second set against one of the “hottest” players on the tour do not diminish perspectives for the season. A renewed partnership with Lendl is likely to add that extra boost which may bring Murray back there where he belongs.
