Murray Falls Flat; Nadal, Federer, Djokovic Today in Montreal; Clijsters Re-Injured
That was some title defense by Andy Murray yesterday. The Scot who had won the Canadian Open the last two years managed just four games in a lackluster 6-3, 6-1 loss to Kevin Anderson in his first match at Montreal.
Murray is on record saying he didn’t want to peak before the US Open and based on his result yesterday I’d say he’s on plan because that wasn’t a peak. That was awful.
“Sometimes you can make mistakes with your preparation,” Murray said. “But I’ve done pretty similar stuff to what I’ve always done coming in here. It’s just a really bad day. It’s happened to me a couple times this year and also last year, as well.
“I just felt very slow. Today I couldn’t get anything going. I started both sets really, really badly which doesn’t help against someone that serves like Kevin. Every time he came to the net, I was a bit late getting to the ball. I was getting behind very early in all of the rallies and didn’t move particularly well.”
Remarkably, Murray has had a horrible run in the Tennis Masters hardcourts this season going winless in Indian Wells, Miami and now Montreal.
In fact, Murray’s last hardcourt tournament match win came against David Ferrer in the January Australian Open semifinals!
Murray still has Cincinnati next week before the US Open. But first he’ll still have doubles in Montreal with brother Jamie.
Novak Djokovic was also scheduled to play Tuesday but rain washed away his long-awaited first official match as a No. 1. Today, Djokovic joins Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on a loaded schedule chock full of good matches.
While the top names should be pull through (any of top three could drop a set I think), there are some excellent matches on the outer courts including Bernard Tomic v. JW Tsonga, Tomas Berdych v. Alexandr Dolgopolov and Marin Cilic v. Juan Martin Del Potro.
The women are in Toronto where Kim Clijsters most recent comeback bid ended again in injury. Clijsters was leading qualifier Jie Zheng of China 6-3, 1-2 when she pulled out with a stomach tear.
“During my warm-up today I felt my left stomach muscle really, really tight,” Clijsters said. “Before the match I got taped to try and protect the muscle as much as possible, but it just went worse and worse. I already had an ultrasound here on-site, and I have a partial tear in my left stomach muscle.
“I have a few weeks until the US Open. I’ll do everything to be ready.”
With her lack of match play and recent spate of injuries it’s unlikely Clijsters, if she even plays the Open, will be able to win a third straight in New York.
Serena Williams continues to look dominant – though not in peak form, she says! – and after destroying Alona Bondarenko she’ll play Julia Goerges today.
“I definitely want to get better on a few things. I want to try to do more and play harder,” Williams said yesterday. “I would hate to be Grand Slam ready right now, seeing that the US Open is not right now. So I will try to peak at the right time.”
World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka are all in action today.
Tennis Channel has live coverage of both Toronto and Montreal starting at 1pm. With all the star power today it will be interesting/frustrating to see which tournament/stars they show.
ESPN3.com also will have live streaming.
WEDNESDAY MONTREAL SCHEDULE
CENTRAL start 12:00 noon
[3] R Federer (SUI) vs [WC] V Pospisil (CAN)
M Baghdatis (CYP) vs J Isner (USA) – To Finish / 36 01
[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs N Davydenko (RUS)
I Dodig (CRO) vs [2] R Nadal (ESP)
[6] M Fish (USA) vs F Lopez (ESP) or R Stepanek (CZE)
BN COURT start 12:00 noon
[WC] B Tomic (AUS) vs [13] J Tsonga (FRA)
[15] F Verdasco (ESP) vs [Q] T Kamke (GER) – To Finish / 57 63 22
[Q] A Bogomolov Jr. (USA) vs [5] G Monfils (FRA)
M Cilic (CRO) vs [16] J Del Potro (ARG)
[WC] E Gulbis (LAT) vs M Llodra (FRA)
COURT 9 start 12:00 noon
[7] T Berdych (CZE) vs A Dolgopolov (UKR)
F Lopez (ESP) vs R Stepanek (CZE) – To Finish / 64 46 23
[10] R Gasquet (FRA) vs T Bellucci (BRA)
[15] F Verdasco (ESP) or [Q] T Kamke (GER) vs J Tipsarevic (SRB)
[7] M Fyrstenberg (POL) / M Matkowski (POL) vs N Djokovic (SRB) / J Tipsarevic (SRB) – After Suitable Rest
TORONTO WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE
Centre Court (from 11.00hrs)
1. Peng Shuai vs. Li Na
2. Caroline Wozniacki vs. Roberta Vinci (NB 13.00hrs)
3. Julia Goerges vs. Serena Williams (NB 15.00hrs)
4. Maria Sharapova vs. Bojana Jovanovski (NB 19.00hrs)
5. Stéphanie Dubois vs. Victoria Azarenka
You Might Like:
Kim Clijsters Withdraws From US Open Title Defense
Ivanovic Says ‘F**** You,’ Clijsters Favored Next Week at WTA Montreal
Andy Murray Officially Withdraws From Canadian Open Montreal, Rafael Nadal With No. 1 Shot Next Week
Kim Clijsters Will Miss French Open, Clay Season
Juan Martin Del Potro Withdraws From US Open; Clijsters to Have MRI on Hip