Andy Murray Falls At Quarter Final Stage
03 June 2009
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Andy Murray became the third big name to crash out of the French Open as he was beaten by clay court specialist Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 3-6 6-0 6-4.
The Chilean's massive forehand proved to be a huge problem for the British number one as Gonzalez hadn't dropped a set on his way to the quarter final.
While Murray matched him for most of the first set he couldn't make any inroads into Gonzalez's impressive serve. But a double fault gave break points to the Chilean and there was no way back for Murray as he lost the first set.
Gonzalez continued to go for the big winners, a tactic that has worked for him throughout the whole tournament, but the errors began creeping into his game and Murray took full advantage as he finally broke his serve to level the match.
It looked like that the third seed finally had the momentum but then his game and serve totally collapsed as Gonzalez stormed through the set in just twenty four minutes sealing it 6-0.
But in the fourth Murray, who was playing in his first quarter final at Roland Garros, regained his composure and began to fight back.
But more mistakes by the Scot once again placed him in trouble as Gonzalez broke to lead 5-3. But Murray responded in great fashion by breaking Gonzalez as he served for the match.
But the Chilean was not to be denied a place in the semi-final as he broke Murray again to clinch the match.
In the days other quarter final Robin Soderling, who put out world number one and defending champion Rafael Nadal, proved that he was not a one trick pony as he stormed through his match against Nikolay Davydenko to triumph 6-1 6-3 6-1.
At the beginning of the tournament Soderling vs Gonzalez in the semi-final was not a line-up that anyone was expecting.
The other semi final places will be decided this afternoon as Roger Federer takes on home favourite Gael Monfils while Juan Martin Del Potro plays Spanish Tommy Robredo.
In the women's draw top seed Dinara Safina was pushed all the way as she dropped her first set of the tournament to teenager Victoria Azarenka.
The teenager pushed an out of sorts Safina all of the first set taking it 6-1, and it looked like another upset was possibly on the cards.
Safina improved her serve in the second set, which was a another tight affair but she managed to break Azarenka, who's nerve seemed to be fading, to level the match.
Despite some moments of brilliance from Azarenka in the third set Safina dominated finally wrapping up the match 1-6 6-4 6-2.
The second of the quarter finals saw Maria Sharapova, who is still on the road to recovery after a shoulder injury, take on twentieth seed Dominika Cibulkova.
Despite brave performances from the former world number one and Wimbledon champion her lack of matches showed as she was bulldozed 6-0 6-2.
In today's quarter finals Sorana Cirstea will play Samantha Stosur while Serena Williams will take on Svetlana Kuznetsova.
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