Andy Murray v Ivan Ljubicic live! | Tom Lutz
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First set: Murray *5-4 Ljubicic Play has ended on the other courts for the day, this is now the only show in town. An easy game for Murray, that break has geed him up. Now we see if Ljubicic can continue his calm start when he has to hold to save the set.
First set: Murray 4-4* Ljubicic That's not a massive surprise. Ljubicic has served more convincingly than Murray in this set and he also has a good record against the Scot. To prove my point he doubles faults on the first point. Murray has started to swear under his breath and for once it actually works as a very loose shot from Ljubicic brings up break point another double fault gifts the game to Murray.
First set: Murray *3-4 Ljubicic I want to talk about Ljubicic head for a bit. He's bald and wears a sweatband which crinkles his skin around the top of the skull. It looks like a crust on creme brulee and you want to put your fingers into it to see if they will break through to the brain underneath. Or you do after a long day. Anyway, while that was happening a shoddy game means Murray is broken to love. Anxious murmurs around Centre Court.
First set: Murray 3-3* Ljubicic Apparently Murray has taken some of the pressure off himself by not reading the press anymore. Shame, he'll miss out on my first world war tank analogy. He could have used it some time at a party or on Twitter. I believe it's quite the rage among tennis players. What's this? A double fault from Ljubicic? That makes it 0-30. Murray nearly takes the game to l! ove but some lovely play at the net from Ljubicic saves the first break point. He then reels off a further two to make it deuce. Some more good work at the net eventually brings him a 10-minute or so game.
First set: Murray *3-2 Ljubicic Now Murray has delivered some brilliant serves so far and a fair amount of filth. Ljubicic, on the other hand, has a lovely rhythm going. Murray does hit two aces to take the game but he still doesn't look as steady as his opponent.
First set: Murray 2-2* Ljubicic Ljubicic has some huge strokes but he lumbers around the baseline like a tank. A slow one. One of those first world war ones that was always getting stuck in the mud. Murray wins a challenge early in the game and Ljubicic shows a non-plussed face that would put a Parisian waiter to shame. hey! Two analogies in one game! I fear that may be my lot for the match. Anyway, game to Ljubicic with some ease.
First set: Murray *2-1 Ljubicic Yet to hear a "Come on Tim" yet. People have heeded Murray's warnings. Ljubicic shows that fizzing backhand of his smacking one cross court that Murray can do nothing about at 30-0. A decent forehand makes it 30-30 and Murray's second double fault of the match brings up a break point. Murray pounces on a short ball though to take it to deuce and an 132mph ace seals the game.
First set: Murray 1-1 Ljubicic* Let's see what Ljubicic's serve looks like tonight. His first one is dumped into the net but he's got a good second serve too and makes Murray work before losing the point. He recovers though and a few booming ground strokes and an ace hand him the game.
First set: Murray* 1-0 Ljubicic Murray starts off in style with two huge aces. Just to make things interesting he double faults at 40-0 but wraps up the opener the next point.
6.47pm: Murray and Ljubicic emerge from the depths of the stadium. McEnroe reckons Ljubicic has nothing to lose here he's 32 ! and a ma ssive underdog. Technically he has got the match to lose but point taken.
6.38pm: And Azerenka takes the match. She does some decent pretend-my-finger-is-a-gun pointing and departs to cheers.
6.36pm: Looks like Azarenka v Hantuchova should be over fairly soon, so Murray will be on in the next 20 minutes or so. Barring some banana-skin themed accident on the way from the dressing room.
6.25pm: Four interesting things about your pantomime villain for this evening, Ivan Ljubicic:
1) He's got a massive serve, but can't return for toffee (or even Toffos) so I hope you like tie breaks. Actually, Andy Murray does like tie breaks, so he'll be quite looking forward to this.
2) He has previously been the ATP Player Council president, so he's a socialist rabble rouser and will no doubt take to court in overalls and a flat cap, and demand a go-slow from fellow players if the Robinson's Barley isn't chilled to the right temperature.
3) He was once world No3, but that was in 2006 and Kaiser Chiefs were cutting edge then.
Actually, they weren't.
4) His head-to-head with Murray stands at 3-3. Ljubicic won their last meeting. There's only been one set that's gone to tie-break in their six matches, so my first point now looks a little shaky.
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