Murray Injured Again
Andy Murray’s hopes of a good French Open were dashed when he lost to Gael Monfils, 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 1-6 6-2 6-1 and suffered yet another injury.
The 19-year-old Scot took a two sets to one lead but he was already suffering with a lower back problem which severely hampered his serve and movement.
Murray suffered physical problems at Wimbledon and the US Open last year.
“It just feels really tight,” Murray explained afterwards.
“I couldn’t serve. It doesn’t help when you’re serving about 50 or 60 mph.”
There was no sign of the drama to come when Murray fought back brilliantly to level the match at one set all.
Following a brief rain delay, Monfils reeled off five successive games to clinch the opening set but Murray seized the initiative in the second, taking a 4-2 lead.
Although the Briton could not hold that advantage, he held his nerve in the tiebreak, clinching it with a stunning backhand down the line.
The match then took a bizarre twist.
Murray broke in the opening game of the third set but then immediately called for the trainer.
After prolonged treatment, he returned to the court but it was Monfils who completely lost his focus, making 18 unforced errors to concede the set in 31 minutes.
Murray, meanwhile, landed only 57% of his first serves, with the speed falling to around 75mph.
Monfils finally got to grips with the situation in the fourth set and once he had taken a 3-1 lead, the result was inevitable.
