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Andy Murray plays a backhand against Rafael Nadal at the 2010 Australian Open. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Andy Murray, ranked fifth, was on his way to beating second-rank Rafael Nadal in straight sets when Nadal twisted his knee and had to withdraw from their Australian Open tennis match.
Nadal had beaten Murray seven times out of their last nine meetings, but Murray came out confident. Murray had to change his game to beat Nadal; Murray couldn’t afford to stay on the baseline and rally with Nadal, who plays from the baseline as well as anyone. Murray successfully made the adjustment.
Murray spoke with an ESPN reporter about charging the net. “You need to pick the right moments against Rafa because he passes so well. I did that pretty well, serve-and-volleyed good, and hit the volleys pretty clean. I missed a couple at the start, but that was definitely something I planned on doing, going to the net.”
Rafael Nadal plays a backhand return against Andy Murray during their Australian Open tennis match. (William West/AFP/Getty Images)
Nadal, the defending Australian Open champion, seemed to be in prime form at the start of the match. His play early in the tournament had not been up to par, but he played the first two sets like his old self. Nonetheless, Murray matched him shot for shot. It took Nadal several games to adjust to the new Murray, and even so, Murray had to fight hard for every point.
Andy Murray came out playing aggressively, charging the net, hitting winners, trying shots not usually in his arsenal. This paid off, as he broke Nadal early in the first set. Murray won four straight games, to take the lead 5–2, while Nadal slashed the air with his racket, fierce with frustration.
Both players tried to control their opponent’s position on the court. The pair played a lot of long rallies, strategic tennis, trying to entice the other in to the net, or to drive the opponent deep, taking a dozen shots to set up the winner.
Murray served out the set 6–3 in a game that lasted twelve minutes, and saw three set-point chances.
Murray missed a lot of first serves, but hit his second serve harder, even scoring an ace on a second serve in the final game of the set.
Andy Murray shouts with joy after winning the first set during his men's singles quarter-final match against Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open tennis tournament. (Torsten Blackwood/AFP/Getty Images)
Nadal had eight break point chances in the first set, and converted only the first. The missed chances added up.
Murray on the Way to a Win When Nadal Withdraws
The second set was even closer. Nadal apparently figured out most on Murray’s new tactics (except how to handle Murray’s outside serve) and the pair played even until the sixth game. Then Nadal broke Murray, who answered right back with a break of his own.
Tied at six, the set went to a tiebreaker, and here Murray dominated.
Murray took first three tie-breaker points, then lost one. On the next serve Murray came in on a second serve and guessed where Nadal was going, hitting a smash to the open court. Then on serve, Murray took it to 6–1. Nadal got one point on his serve, then hit a backhand into the net, giving Murray the set.
The combination of Murray’s serve, his footspeed, his serve, and his ability to anticipate Nadal’s shots, gave Murray the slight edge.
Rafael Nadal receives medical attention in his quarterfinal match against Andy Murray at the 2010 Australian Open. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
On the final point of the first game, Nadal twisted his knee, while moving left to chase a shot. Nadal immediately sat down and called for his trainer.
Murray didn’t know what had happened to Nadal. “It was so sudden. He was obviously moving well at the end of the second set and I didn’t notice when it happened. He had a lot of problems with his knees last year. Hopefully it’s not too bad.”
Nadal returned to the court, only to be broken in the next game. Murray won the third game, and Nadal decided that he couldn’t finish the match. Nadal has a history of tendonitis, which kept him out of Wimbledon in 2009.
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal of Spain embrace after Nadal retires from their quarterfinal match. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Apparently Nadal decided that he would only be damaging his knee if he continued, and he really didn’t have anything for Murray anyway. Had he not retired, he surely still would have lost the match.
Andy Murray goes on to play Marin Cilic in the semi-finals. Cilic beat Murray in straight sets at their last meeting as the 2009 U.S. Open, but this time around, Murray is healthy (he had a taped-up wrist at the U.S. Open,) he is fresher by far than Cilic, who has played three five-set marathons, and he is playing great tennis.
Murray wasn’t letting the U.S. Open loss bother him. “I hope I’m going to turn that around. I’ve played against him a few times before that and played really well. The U.S. open wasn’t to be, but I’m feeling good here so, I’ve got a good shot.
With the range of abilities Murray showed against Nadal, it is hard to imagine Cilic will find a weak spot.
