| Saturday, 28 June 2008 Written by Kate Battersby Andy Murray surrendered his first set of this year's Championships but went on to beat Tommy Haas in a confident performance that safely saw him through to Wimbledon's second week shake-up. Watched by a host of British sport stars in the Royal Box, including Tim Henman, the man who previously carried British hopes for so many years on Centre Court, Murray was slow to get into the match. But after losing the first six points, he rapidly got into the competitive groove, delivering a fabulous passing shot for two break points, then a really athletic lunging backhand down the line to grab the break. Murray now had what tennis coaches call his "match face" on, and it felt as if already he was gaining control of this encounter. Haas was unsettled yet pulled back four Murray break points for 2-5 to keep the scoreline to a very different looking 3-4. But the way the Scot was playing it was still too great a gap to bridge and Murray served out 6-4. At the start of the second set, Murray was returning the German's serve quite splendidly, taking much of the pace off and leaving Haas with few options. He broke for 2-1 with all the power of a player who has gained 9lb through weight training in the last eight months. All the momentum was going Murray's way. Haas was getting frustrated, bellowing at himself: "Godammit!" But this is a player who was once ranked second in the world and, several injuries later, is still number 38 and Murray was wise not to treat him lightly. The German took the initiative and dug out a good volley to level the set at 4-4. Murray, as if felled by the change of pace, slipped over in the next game. His ignominy lasted into the tie-break. The Scot pumped a forehand into the net and out of nowhere the match was level. At 1-1 in the third Murray appeared to feel a twinge his arm, and seconds later was break point down. But he got away with it when Haas somehow pushed a volley wide. Murray's serve was slipping and he had to save another break point. The game was a tussle and Murray held. One double fault and two challenges later the break belonged to Murray when Haas dropped a backhand into the net. This time Murray did not let the advantage get away. But Haas was still in it, and for a while it seemed by no means certain that Murray would escape a five-setter. But at 2-2 Haas threw in a double fault to give away the break, and then Murray's backhand outwitted him to stretch away further. From there it was a formality. Murray needed three match points but took it when he forced one last error from his opponent, enabling him to wrap up the 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-3, 6-2 victory. That meant the Scot had equalled his best performance to date in a Grand Slam. Three times previously he has reached a fourth round, including at Wimbledon on his last appearance two years ago, but he has fallen at that hurdle each time. On Monday, he will have to beat French eighth seed Richard Gasquet to take his record - and British expectations - to a new level.
| Centre Court - Gentlemen's Singles - 3rd Round | |
|
| 
Match Statistics
