Monday 27 June 2011

Murray v Gasquet

There are only four men in the Last 16 who haven't dropped a set so far; Nadal and Federer unsurprisingly are two of them, alongside Tomas Berdych, who was last year's runner-up, but who is the fourth?

You guessed it, it's Richard Gasquet. He's been getting better and better and winning with more conviction as the rounds go by and, although Andy Murray has trumpted his ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against the Frenchman, you can't help but notice a little complacency.

The five-set Wimbledon epic with Gasquet in 2008 was Murray's rise to the big time, he was cheering in between points and really working the crowd, he was a young man with the world on his side and seemingly in his element and on the crest of a wave. 

Three years on and the pressure of not having won a slam is proving a heavy burden. We all know he has the game, but he's not yet shown the confidence to play his own game against the big three.

Murray has said that he doesn't mind if he goes behind, as he knows he can come back - it's a very dangerous tactic. We know he's trying to alleviate some of the pressure, but it's risky business showing your opponent that you're willing to go behind.

 If Murray knows he can win three sets in a row against Gasquet, then he should be looking to win them at the start of the match and not the end - if not for his own good, then at least for ours. Cue the roller coaster.

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