Tennis

Andy Murray suffers Zhuhai Championships disappointment with thrilling Alex de Minaur loss


Andy Murray finally succumbed to the younger, fitter generation after two hours and 42 minutes of intense, exhilarating tennis as Alex de Minaur edged him out of a thriller, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4.

After De Minaur posted a video before the match of himself dancing in a fluffy hat to an infuriatingly popular children’s hit, it was tempting to bill this as the Baby Shark against the Old Croc.

Except that while it may not be the result he wanted tonight, after his two performance here in the Zhuhai Championships, nobody can stick any sort of “old crock” label on Murray again.

Even those people who thought he had totally run out of steam after just a set and a half.

Having already been broken at the start of the second set, a particularly hard run-around in the sixth game had certainly left Murray looking ragged all of a sudden. The 32-year-old leant on his racket and puffed heavily.

If his physical struggle discomfort was not confirmed by an immediate double-fault in the next game, the fact that he was broken to love was decidedly ominous.

De Minaur served out; what had Murray got left to give in the third? Plenty, it turned out.

In the first set, Murray had come from a break down to take the initial advantage.

De Minaur, 20, is one of the fittest players on the tour. But right from the first point, Murray seemed determined to make him work.

The former world no. 1 won the first three rallies on the De Minaur serve to rack up some early break points, and though he saved them, it was immediately clear in no uncertain terms that he was going to need to fight all the way.

In fairness, the Australian responded by breaking in the very next game – a mammoth slug-fest that meant it was 28 minutes before the two players got to sit down for the first change.

Murray’s problem was some uncharacteristic unforced errors, but you’re never wise to back against him too readily.

In the sixth game, he broke back and so relentless was he in this war of attrition that when De Minaur served for the first set, he suddenly found himself a break point down and dumping a loose backhand in to the tramline.

By the time of this third set, though, the Australian was the one very much with the spring in his step – his reactions at the net were almost electric.

Murray saved two break points in the opening game, but all the momentum now seemed to be against him.

He is nothing, though, if not a stubborn so-and-so. Toe-to-toe he went with his young opponent, giving him no quarter.

It was not until the ninth game that Murray wobbled – loose shots giving De Minaur three break points. He needed only one.

Murray, ever the war horse, even had three chances to break back, only to find the net each time.

In the end, and unreturnable serve on match point just about got De Minaur over the line.

Even so, Murray will head off to Beijing knowing how close things were to being very different.

That has to give him some confidence, at the very least.



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