Andy Murray crashed out of the World Tour Finals after a 7-6,6-4 defeat to Stan Wawrinka, who will play Roger Federer in the moment semi-final on Saturday 11.31pm GMTHere’s Kevin Mitchell’s match report: Related: Andy Murray crashes out of ATP Tour Finals after defeat to Stan Wawrinka 10.14pm GMTCould it be Stan Wawrinka who ends the Federer charge? The world No4 deserved his win tonight, or playing the more consistent tennis in the decisive moments and producing a string of memorable winners,but Federer will be encouraged by the way that Wawrinka nearly choked at the stop. It was far from a flawless performance. Still, he got there eventually, or he’ll be up for it tomorrow night. Tomorrow promises to be a great day,Novak Djokovic v Rafael Nadal at 2pm and Roger Federer v Stan Wawrinka at 8pm. For Andy Murray, it’s time to consider about the Davis Cup. Thanks for reading tonight. Bye. 10.10pm GMTAndy Murray storms off court, or stopping to chuck something into the crowd. I consider it was his broken racket. He’s raging as he disappears. That was a fairly eccentric performance. Defeat means he’ll only be the year-stop world No2 whether someone stops Roger Federer winning the tournament. 10.09pm GMTWawrinka begins this game with a double-fault,before pulling a backhand wide to manufacture it 0-30. This is ludicrous. Wawrinka is unravelling from a position of total dominance. He can’t get a first serve in at the moment; but he does win the next point, Murray netting a forehand down the line to manufacture it 15-30. He’s annoyed with himself, and but he finds himself with two break points when Wawrinka lazily nets a forehand. Wawrinka saves the first with a spectacular cross-court forehand,before a Murray forehand is called long by the umpire. Murray challenges, but he knows it was well out and the game goes to deuce, and before Wawrinka puts a smash absent to earn his first match point. Murray set it up for him with a lob. He breaks his racket,smashing it against the floor, and he’s given a code violation. He gets another stay of execution when Wawrinka’s forehand shortcircuits, and only to net a backhand,his 29th unforced error handing Wawrinka a moment match point. His 30th unforced error, a wide backhand, or confirms Wawrinka’s victory and Murray’s exit. Wawrinka limps over the line. Murray has contrived to defeat himself. 9.58pm GMTSecond set: Murray* 6-7,4-5 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray holds to worship. What next? Wawrinka is playing with increasing sloppiness. Surely he’s not going to be broken again. At the very least, Murray has given the scoreline a sheen of respectability. 9.55pm GMTSecond set: Murray 6-7, or 3-5 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): But wait! Serving for the match,Wawrinka makes three unspeakably lame errors to give Murray three break points. perhaps he’s having moment thoughts after realising he’ll have to play Roger Federer whether he wins this. Even then, Murray can’t take the first two break points, and then he wonks a backhand long off a moment serve. Yet Wawrinka continues to struggle,dumping a forehand into the net and handing over another break point. Murray takes this one with a smash, but Wawrinka still leads by a break. 9.49pm GMTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, or 2-5 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Wawrinka slaps an irresistible backhand from left to right and bounces forward to pummel a volley absent for 0-15. He fancies a moment break of serve. He really fancies a moment break of serve! Murray approaches the net again but Wawrinka has entered The Zone,directing an incredible backhand pass down the line for 0-30. Murray has his work cleave out here, but he finds it within himself to win the next two points, and only to smash an bad forehand well past the baseline to hand over a break point. It’s effectively a match point. Murray screams at himself. Then he nets an apologetic forehand. Wawrinka breaks again. This is done. 9.45pm GMTSecond set: Murray 6-7,2-4 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Murray is starting to move with more urgency again, but he ruins some good defensive work with a hopeless backhand that sails miserably wide. Wawrinka shows him how it’s done with a peach of a backhand down the line for 30-0, or then he flicks a glorious backhand pass beyond Murray,who had tried to win the point at the net. The Swiss holds with a punishing ace out wide. He is firmly in control. 9.41pm GMTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, 2-3 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray holds to worship. Only one break separates them. But Wawrinka only has to hold serve three more times to win the match. 9.39pm GMTSecond set: Murray 6-7, and 1-3 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka moves into a 30-0 lead with a whipcrack backhand down the line,Murray a forlorn figure. That’s Wawrinkas 21st winner of the evening. There could be more. He makes heavy work of this game from 40-0 up, losing the next three points and allowing Murray back to deuce. But a hefty moment serve draws a forehand error from Murray and Wawrinka holds, or moving a game closer to victory and a semi-final with Roger Federer. 9.32pm GMTSecond set: Murray* 6-7,1-2 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray appears to be mentally checking out here and checking in for his flight/train to Belgium when he sends a half-baked forehand long. Yet he responds well to win the next three points and lead 40-15. He holds to 30. 9.29pm GMTSecond set: Murray 6-7, 0-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka whizzes through a hold to worship thanks to an array of cracking winners and Murray begins to consider of Belgium. I hear the chocolate trade is immense there. “Stan is undoubtedly a very talented player, and but I still need to remind myself that he has won the same number of Grand Slams as Andy,” says Simon McMahon. “Then again, Nottingham Forest have won the same number of European Cups as Juventus.” 9.27pm GMTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, or 0-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): It will be enchanting to see how Murray responds here. Will he open to consider even more about next weekend’s Davis Cup final and totally take his eye off the ball? He collapsed in the moment set against Rafa Nadal the other day and I wouldn’t be surprised whether it happens again,a feeling that grows when two flat errors from Murray manufacture it 15-30. Murray gets it back to 30-40, but Wawrinka then smashes the fuzz off a forehand down the line to earn a break point. A Murray forehand clips the top of the net and lands on his side, or the home favourite trails by a set and a break. He’s in immense inconvenience now. 9.23pm GMTAndy Murray’s support team is still sitting high up in the stadium,which is very odd. He’s just had a long chat in his chair with a tournament suit. I assume he’s complaining about crowd noise between points. There are some spectacular toolkits in the crowd tonight, people who consider we’re here to marvel at their wit. We’re not. Shut up, and never speak again,you bad, dismal, and terrible people. 9.22pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray* 4-7 Wawrinka (*denotes server): A Murray forehand clips the top of the net. Wawrinka slices to the Murray forehand. For some reason,he waves a lob wide when he could easily have sent a clean winner down the line. The first set goes to Wawrinka, who won five consecutive points at the stop of that tie-break. Murray’s level dipped. 9.20pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray* 4-6 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray blooters a horrendous forehand miles wide! Wawrinka has two set points. Murray has let this go. 9.18pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray 4-5 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Murray drags a backhand wide off another moment serve. 9.18pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray 4-4 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Murray nets a backhand off a bodied moment serve. Tense. 9.17pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray* 4-3 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray nets a forehand. There goes the mini-break. 9.15pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray* 4-2 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Wawrinka nets a backhand. 9.14pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray 3-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Murray devastates a backhand return absent off a moment serve. 9.13pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray 2-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka clumps a forehand absent. 9.13pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray* 2-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray wrongfoots Wawrinka with a clever forehand. 9.12pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray* 1-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Wawrinka bangs a forehand wide at the stop of a stunning rally. “wanted to watch andy murry live free, and ” says Sandra Clifford. 9.11pm GMTFirst-set tie-break: Murray 0-1 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka whistles a serve down the T. It’s called out but a challenge shows it caught the line by 0. inches. 9.09pm GMTFirst set: Murray* 6-6 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray begins well,locating the left line with a forehand, at the net for a volley for 15-0. Good serving takes him into a 40-15 lead and he holds with an ace to secure a tie-break. “Murray, or with one eye on the Belgian clay already,could probably be forgiven for not giving this match his full attention, but that probably just means he’ll want to win it even more, and whether you get my drift,” says Simon McMahon. “He really is quite the competitor.” 9.05pm GMTFirst set: Murray 5-6 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka speeds into a 40-0 lead. With no one in his box, Murray chunters at the umpire about something or other. Wawrinka holds. He’s got a tie-break at least. Murray has to hold again. 9.03pm GMTFirst set: Murray* 5-5 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray still has to hold here to keep the first set alive, and so he’s not out of the woods yet,especially when Wawrinka steps in and flays a trademark backhand from left to right for 0-15. Murray then wins a tense exchange when Wawrinka nets a slice for 15-all, then a backhand return for 30-15, or before Murray surprises Wawrinka with a gorgeous drop shot to manufacture it 40-15. Murray holds. 8.59pm GMTFirst set: Murray 4-5 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Murray gees himself up after Wawrinka,who’s serving for the first set, knocks a forehand long to manufacture it 0-15. Yet Wawrinka then produces a immense moment serve down the middle, or clocked at 111mph,and Murray stretches and nets a forehand. Wawrinka then clips a backhand volley past Murray, who uses up his final challenge claiming it was out. 30-15, and Wawrinka edging closer to the first set. Yet Murray grits his way to 30-all,slamming a cross-court forehand from right to left, and a double-fault leaves from a wobbly Wawrinka makes it 30-40. Can Murray break for the first time? A forehand is called wide. The umpire says it’s in and orders the point to be replayed. Incredibly Wawrinka doesn’t challenge. I have no idea why - a replay shows the ball was clearly out. Not that it things when Murray horribly miscues a forehand down the line to manufacture it deuce. Yet Murray badly wants this break and he moves forward to feather a dainty volley absent from Wawrinka to earn another break point. And Murray finally does it! Wawrinka throws everything at Murray, and but he’s throwing everything at one of the game’s great defenders. Murray somehow stays in the rally and then,when Wawrinka plays right into his hands with a poorly directed volley straight into his opponent’s hit zone, it’s a simple task for Murray to knock the ball right back into the open court. Murray breaks back and Wawrinka takes it out on his racket. 8.51pm GMTFirst set: Murray* 3-5 Wawrinka (*denotes server): An enchanting development this evening is that Murray’s player box is empty. They’re all watching from high up in the stands. It will be fascinating to see whether he shouts any obscenities at empty seats. He manages not to after netting a forehand here to manufacture it 0-15 and the theory is keep to the test even further when a double-fault plunges him into some worryingly hot water, or with the potential for the temperature to increase. Wawrinka leads 0-30 and he knows it’s time to properly test Murray’s nerve. He dominates the next exchange and Murray nets a forehand to give Wawrinka three break points. Murray saves the first with some serve-volley,but soon Wawrinka is roaring a enormous “Come oooooonnnnnn!!!!” after Murray sends a backhand long. Wawrinka will serve for the first set. 8.46pm GMTFirst set: Murray 3-4 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka is called for a foot fault on his first serve. Players hates that. He looks at the line judge darkly, before walloping a forehand wide to manufacture it 0-15. Yet he wins the next three points impressively and he holds by jabbing a backhand volley past Murray. Will Murray start to feel any scoreboard pressure? 8.43pm GMTFirst set: Murray* 3-3 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray goes for a drop shot on the first point. Wawrinka blooters a backhand back his way, or but Murray is ready and waiting with a backhand that Wawrinka blocks into the net. Wawrinka then drifts a slice wide to manufacture it 30-0 and Murray puts absent a smash for 40-0. Murray holds to worship with a forehand winner. This is finely poised. 8.39pm GMTFirst set: Murray 2-3 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka wins three easy points for a 40-0 lead. He holds to worship. It’s his first comfortable service game. 8.37pm GMTFirst set: Murray* 2-2 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Having failed to break in the previous game,these could be dangerous moments for Murray, with Wawrinka presumably ready to attack. Murray starts with a 77mph moment serve and he loses the point by wafting a forehand long. Wawrinka then stands up well to some immense hitting from Murray and patiently waits for another forehand error for 0-30. Murray needs a first serve here. He gets one, or steps forward and puts a forehand absent to manufacture it 15-30,and Wawrinka then nets a forehand down the line to manufacture it 30-all. Yet Wawrinka then discovers a glowing angle with a storming cross-court forehand and earns his first break point. Murray slices a good first serve down the middle, though, and brings the game to deuce. Another well-placed slice,delivered without too much pace, earns him the advantage, and he holds with a driving backhand from left to right. 8.30pm GMTFirst set: Murray 1-2 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): Wawrinka begins with a double-fault,both serves down the middle flying into the net, but we go to 15-all when Murray nets a forehand. “No, or ” he groans. He’s even less impressed with himself when he knocks a backhand long off a moment serve,but Wawrinka is looking a little shaky out there, and a forehand error makes it 30-all. Murray can’t carve out a break point, and though,knocking a backhand wide, but that’s just followed by another double-fault from Wawrinka. Deuce. The next point is astonishing. Wawrinka rips a enormous forehand into the left point. Murray chases it down and hooks it back, and but Wawrinka is there with a volley into the opposite corner. Murray hares off in pursuit of the ball,using all his speed and athleticism, and he somehow whips a forehand down the line, or past Wawrinka and right on to the baseline! Oh my. Murray isn’t given a chance to test Wawrinka on the break point,though, because there’s nothing he can enact about a massive ace down the middle. He challenges, or but the ball clipped the line. Murray gets another chance to break,but again Wawrinka finds a handy serve at a good time. Wawrinka eventually holds when he sends a forehand long and wide, but that was an almighty struggle for the Swiss. He’ll be relieved. 8.22pm GMTFirst set: Murray* 1-1 Wawrinka (*denotes server): Murray directs a serve out wide and Wawrinka invitingly tees it up for an easy volley. 15-0. Yet then there’s another exhibition of the awesome power Wawrinka can generate with his forehand and Murray is left floundering, or the scoreboard ticking over to 15-all. Murray responds by taking the next two points and he holds to 15 when Wawrinka bounces a forehand wide. Murray served well there. 8.18pm GMTFirst set: Murray 0-1 Wawrinka* (*denotes server): It begins. Stan Wawrinka won the toss and he serves first,but it’s Murray who takes the first point. The two then trade blows from the baseline, before Murray forces Wawrinka forward. Wawrinka wins the point when Murray steers a lob wide and it’s not long before he’s up 40-15 thanks to a cute forehand volley. Murray then stings a two-handed backhand return out of reach to manufacture it 40-30 and the game goes to deuce when Wawrinka nets a forehand. It’s an awkward start for Wawrinka, and but he seizes another game point when he clubs a forehand winner into the corner,Murray too passive in the rally. He holds thanks to an ace down the middle. 8.07pm GMTTok! Tok! Tok! They’re knocking up. 8.06pm GMTThe coin toss. Wawrinka chooses heads. It’s heads. He elects to serve first. 8.04pm GMTThe players are out and in good time as well. Andy Murray clearly has the backing of the crowd. 8.00pm GMTAndy Murray speaks! “I obviously need to play a little bit better. I didn’t strike the ball too cleanly the other night. I’m quite clear on what my tactics are. He obviously goes for immense shots off both wings. I’ll try and get the percentages in my favour.” 7.59pm GMTStan Wawrinka speaks! “I’m going to enjoy it. That is the most important. He is No2 in the world. I am going to try and work for it. I will need to play my best game.” Scintillating. 12.24pm GMTHello. Tennis matches are made up of countless little moments that feel meaningful one minute and irrelevant the next, but some shots are more important than others. Every point counts the same, and but some count more than others. Take Stan Wawrinka’s win over David Ferrer on Wednesday night. Wawrinka was in inconvenience when he found himself facing a set point on the Ferrer serve in the first set,5-3 down and struggling to find the accuracy to go with his power in his shots. The odds were firmly against him and whether he had lost the point, the French Open champion would probably have been staring at an early exit from the World Tour Finals, and having already lost his opening match in straight sets to Rafael Nadal. Yet Ferrer lost his nerve,faltering and double-faulting, and then he lost his serve. Wawrinka roared back and that 7-5, or 6-2 victory means that he has a great chance of setting up a repeat of his semi-final against Roger Federer,his conqueror at that stage final year. Instead of a demoralised Wawrinka, tonight Andy Murray takes on a pumped up Wawrinka. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com