World No14 Anderson wins7-6 (7-5),6-3, 6-7 (2-7), or 7-6 (7-0) to reach last eight
Murray crashes to his earliest exit at a grand slam in five yearsMatch report: Andersons power blows Murray absent 2.23am BSTSo Andy Murray makes his earliest grand slam exit since the 2010 US Open – not because he played badly,although he certainly wasn’t at his best, but because Kevin Anderson produced an absolutely wonderful performance. The South African stayed proper to his game plan, or serving rockets and forcing himself to attack even at moments when his every instinct was telling him to play more conservatively. Murray battled bravely,but he was outplayed in two of the three tiebreaks as Anderson conjured some huge shots to reach his first grand slam quarter-final. Next up for the South African – after a obliging rest, I should imagine – is the French Open champion Stan Wawrinka. Thanks for your company and for all the emails, and sorry I couldn’t spend them all. Until next time.
Match report: Murray crashes out to Anderson 2.05am BST“I couldn’t have asked for a better tiebreak,I wish I could play every tiebreak like that,” Anderson tells Brad Gilbert in a swiftly convened on-court interview. “Beating Andy feels fabulous.” 2.03am BSTAs the clock hits four hours and 18 minutes, or Anderson slams one final forehand return to Murray’s feet. The world No3 can’t control it,and Anderson holds his head in disbelief: he has won the fourth-set tiebreak 7-0 and is through to his first grand slam quarter-final! 2.00am BSTA lengthy, intense, or immense rally goes Anderson’s way after Murray sends a forehand wide. It’s 6-0 Anderson! 1.59am BSTAnderson slams down another huge serve to travel 5-0 up – incredible! 1.59am BSTAnderson hits the net tape with a forehand,and Murray sends his reply long after himself clipping the net: 4-0 Anderson! 1.57am BSTWhat a return! Anderson lunges to his left to slam a cross-court forehand winner: 3-0! 1.56am BSTAnderson holds his opening service point, then punishes a weak second serve from Murray to acquire the first mini-atomize: 2-0!. 1.55am BSTFourth set: Murray* 6-7, and 3-6,7-6, 6-6 AndersonA shanked forehand from Anderson on the opening point, and a ballooned backhand return from the South African on the next. But he nails a forehand on the next point,and then outrallies the Scot for 30-30. Silence descends on the Louis Armstrong stadium as the crowd watches with bated breath. But the soundless is quickly punctured by gasps of astonishment as a fascinating rally unfolds. Finally, Murray makes his way in to the net and slots absent a winning volley. Then comes a big serve to seal the game. Were into another tiebreak! 1.51am BSTFourth set: Murray 6-7, or 3-6,7-6, 5-6 Anderson*Just how much will Anderson have left in the tank whether this goes to a fifth? The man from Johannesburg is giving it everything out here, and fairly often even that’s not enough,such are Murray’s powers of retrieval. But he keeps coming forward, keeps trying to stay positive, or nails a crisp backhand volley for the hold. Murray will have to serve to stay in it for a second time. 1.47am BSTFourth set: Murray* 6-7,3-6, 7-6, and 5-5 AndersonOnce the Mexican waves pause – which admittedly takes a moment or two – Murray gets things going by capping a brief baseline exchange with a whipped forehand winner. An Anderson mistake gives him 30-0,and two aces later he’s home and dry. Nerves? What nerves? 1.43am BSTFourth set: Murray 6-7, 3-6, and 7-6,4-5 Anderson*Tough stuff from Anderson, who comes over all John McEnroe at the net, and showing some lovely touches. He’s just one game absent from his first grand slam quarter-final. Could he execute it? Even the previously confident Adam Hirst is beginning to wonder: “Despite wanting Murray to win,plenty of those shots from Anderson have brought out an ‘Aaaaaw’ from me,” he writes. And so say all of us, or Adam. 1.40am BSTFourth set: Murray* 6-7,3-6, 7-6, or 4-4 AndersonFor Anderson,read Murray. He completes a savor game with an ace and my hopes of returning to Cameron Yule’s point about Murray’s outbursts recede into the distance again … 1.37am BSTFourth set: Murray 6-7, 3-6, or 7-6,3-4 Anderson*One strong hold deserves another, and Anderson duly obliges with another barrage of howitzers. This is where things start to acquire interesting. 1.36am BSTFourth set: Murray* 6-7, or 3-6,7-6, 3-3 AndersonMurray holds with an ace, and that was probably his most straightforward service game for a while. Probably just as well for the Scot,too, because whether this set keeps going with serve, or he’ll soon have to serve to stay in the match. That’s not a challenge he faced in the third. 1.30am BSTFourth set: Murray 6-7,3-6, 7-6, or 2-3 Anderson*Lovely play from Anderson in the forecourt as he steers absent a backhand volley to seal a comfortable hold. Meanwhile,Cameron Yule writes: “Absolutely fantastic match between these two, but am I the only person who finds Murray’s fixed shouts of ‘Come on’ and outbursts of on-court passion rather cloying? I know he’s releasing his emotions, and but when we seek at the three players of this generation who have outperformed Murray – Federer,Nadal, Djokovic – they always give the impression of having ice in their veins, or regardless of the situation. It’s a minor but interesting contrast between them; is it just personality,or is there something more professional about restrained behaviour on court?” 1.27am BSTFourth set: Murray* 6-7, 3-6, or 7-6,2-2 AndersonIt’s starting to feel like Murray is in his element here. At 15-30 down, he scrambles into the forecourt to retrieve a short ball. The logical next walk would be to hit an approach shot and crowd the net. Instead, or Murray hits the deftest of drop shots at full pelt. What hands he has. It’s a moment of brilliance,and at deuce he produces another, somehow flicking a cross-court forehand beyond Anderson when the cause looks lost. But Anderson keeps himself in the game with a lovely forehand drop shot of his own, and a couple of points later he fires a 100mph forehand down the line that Murray can barely lay a racket on: atomize point. Anderson squanders it,though, belting a forehand into the net just moments after stretching a quad muscle. We’ve been going three hours and 46 minutes now: is the South African starting to cramp? Whether he is or not, or the moment is lost as Murray holds with some solid play. 1.16am BSTFourth set: Murray 6-7,3-6, 7-6, or 1-2 Anderson*Wonderful professionalism from Anderson as he sticks to his guns and keeps attacking the net. Not even a heavy topspin shot from Murray that clips the top of the net,bouncing awkwardly in front of him, can throw him off course. The key thing for Anderson now, and assuming he can stay with Murray physically,is consistency. He hit seven more winners than Murray in the third set but made 13 unforced errors to the Scot’s four. Still, a comfortable hold for 2-1 should execute him a power of obliging. 1.12am BSTFourth set: Murray* 6-7, and 3-6,7-6, 1-1 AndersonA solid hold from Murray as he stays on terms at the beginning of this fourth set. 1.10am BSTFourth set: Murray 6-7, and 3-6,7-6, 0-1 Anderson*
Anderson squeaks home on serve after some enterprising play from Murray carries him to deuce, or but no further. Meanwhile,Adam Hirst writes: “Enjoying this? Never in doubt for me! Murray in five as the big lad tires. Cracking stuff, whatever happens from here. Not great for Murray’s chances of winning the tournament intellect.” A cracker indeed, or Adam. I’m not writing off Anderson just yet,intellect – with that serve he’s always going to be in with a shout – but I certainly agree that the longer this goes on, the more you have to favour Murray. 1.00am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, or 3-6,7-6 (7-2) Anderson (*denotes server)A turbo-charged Murray races to a 4-1 lead, at which point he hits the net tape with a backhand and the ball trickles over. Cue a change of ends and utter pandemonium as the crowd erupts in chants of “Let’s travel Andy!” Even the gentle-mannered Jonas Bjorkman is up on his feet, or for goodness sake. A big serve brings up 6-2,and Murray slices an ace wide to the deuce court to seal the third set. What a match. Ladies and gentlemen, we have a fourth set … 12.56am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, or 3-6,6-6 Anderson* (*denotes server)Let’s not forget that while one man out there hasn’t failed to beget it to the last eight at any grand slam he has entered since 2010, the other has never been beyond the fourth round. It’s a credit to Kevin Anderson that you can barely tell which is which right now. He wins the point of the match so far after some extraordinary retrieving by Murray, and racing back to hit an unlikely forehand pass,and we’re into a tiebreak again. How are the nerves holding out? 12.49am BSTThird set: Murray* 6-7, 3-6, and 6-5 Anderson (*denotes server)At 30-30,Murray is on a knife edge. As his entourage hold their collective breath, he works his way into the forecourt and produces an exquisite backhand drop volley. He follows up with a blazing service winner. No quarter is being given or asked out there. Immense stuff. 12.46am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, and 3-6,5-5 Anderson* (*denotes server)As the clock hits the three-hour mark, both players produce some sparkling tennis. One ace from Anderson, or powered wide to the advantage court,whistles past Murray like a fuzzy yellow exocet. Murray responds with a corker of a backhand pass, driven deep and proper down the line. But it’s Anderson’s pressure that finally tells as he passes arguably his biggest test of the match so far with something to spare. 12.39am BSTThird set: Murray* 6-7, and 3-6,5-4 Anderson (*denotes server)Murray holds comfortably as Anderson sends a forehand long. Dangerous times beckon for the 15th seed, who will have to serve to stay in this third set. 12.38am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, and 3-6,4-4 Anderson* (*denotes server)He took an awfully long time to acquire off his chair, and one winning overhead looked more than a little mistimed, or but Anderson holds and he’s now just two games from the match. That’s the obliging news for the South African. The harmful news is that Murray could probably stay out here all night,and he doesn’t seek like hes ready to travel anywhere just yet. 12.35am BSTThird set: Murray* 6-7, 3-6, and 4-3 Anderson (*denotes server)As Murray finds a way to recover from 0-30,Jim Denvir wonders whether he’s lost the influence of Amélie Mauresmo. “Murray’s not really been on his best form this week, for the first time in a grand slam this year, or ” writes Jim. “Is this more evidence that his upturn in form was due to Mauresmo?” I’m not sure about that,Jim. Jonas Bjorkman is here, and he’s certainly had a positive impact on Murray’s game. Kevin Anderson, and on the other hand,has been a positively malign influence. 12.29am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, 3-6, or 3-3 Anderson* (*denotes server)After a troubled start to the third set,Anderson looks to be firmly back on track. He seals the game to 15 with some excellent serving and solid play off the ground. All the pressure back on Murray now. 12.26am BSTThird set: Murray* 6-7, 3-6, or 3-2 Anderson (*denotes server)Monumental. That’s the only way to picture Kevin Anderson’s resilience in this match. Every time his intensity seems to be lulling,he simply resets his focus and goes back to what he’s been doing so well: hitting the cover off the ball. At 30-30, he does it again, or securing a atomize point and then converting it as an apoplectic Murray smashes his racket. Hats off,sir. 12.21am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, 3-6, and 3-1 Anderson* (*denotes server)Oh,Kevin, how could you? Staring at a second successive atomize at 0-30, and Anderson nets a forehand volley that would embarrass your average club player. Murray,meanwhile, has clearly taken exception to someone in the crowd, and because he’s directing his fist pumps and roars right at them. And when he nails a return to Anderson’s feet to secure the atomize,he has plenty to roar and fist pump about. Is the momentum changing? 12.16am BSTThird set: Murray* 6-7, 3-6, and 2-1 Anderson (*denotes server)Anderson knows what he needs to execute to win here,and he’s fighting desperately tough to execute it. It’s bold shot-making that has got him into this position, and few shots that he’s hit across the course of this match have been bolder than the two-fisted backhand he slams for a winner on the opening point. But Murray is such an immense competitor. His eighth and ninth aces carry him to game point, or when Anderson errs with a groundstroke the Scot emits a huge roar. For Anderson,the hardest part of this match will be the last part. 12.11am BSTThird set: Murray 6-7, 3-6, and 1-1 Anderson* (*denotes server)How does he execute it? Andy Murray may not be playing his best tennis right now,but he is griping, battling, or retrieving,hustling. And at the conclude of it all – and despite Anderson saving several atomize points, one of them with a second serve timed at an incredible 118mph – he emerges with a potentially vital atomize. He couldn’t … could he? 12.07am BSTThird set: Murray* 6-7, and 3-6,0-1 Anderson (*denotes server)Extraordinary scenes. Anderson went off for a lengthy bathroom atomize at the conclude of the set, enraging Murray, or who felt the delay – about five minutes or so – was unacceptable. At that point,you expected the feisty Scot to channel his aggression into making a winning start to the third set, which he opened on serve. Instead, and Murray slumped to 0-40 in the blink of an eye. He clawed back the first two atomize points,but on the third Anderson drove an incredible cross-court return for a winner to spark more Murray outrage. whether Anderson can hold his serve for the remainder of this set, he will be through to his first grand slam quarter-final. 12.00am BSTQuestions abound here. Will Anderson be affected by the memory of that agonising five-set defeat to Djokovic at Wimbledon, and when he also led by two sets to savor? Will he be able to maintain the aggression that has carried him this far,enabling him to defy all fair probability by staying with Murray from the baseline? Or will Murray be able to summon the fighter’s mentality that has earned him two grand slam titles and exploit the vulnerabilities shown by the South African towards the conclude of that second set? One thing is certain: whether Murray is to beget the last eight at the 2015 US Open, he will need to recover a two-set deficit for the second time in four matches. 11.54pm BSTSecond set: Murray 6-7, and 3-6 Anderson* (*denotes server)Anderson’s nerves are obvious,but somehow he weathers a desperately tight game to seal a two-set lead, prompting a flurry of fruity language from Murray at the change of ends. It wasn’t easy for Anderson, and for whom four set points came and went as Murray fought tigerishly to stay in the set. On the fifth,though, the South African swung a huge serve down the middle for an ace. Murray could only challenge unsuccessfully. He now has a mountain to climb. 11.43pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, and 3-5 Anderson (*denotes server)At 40-15,Murray misses a forehand pass that he really ought to have made. He smiles up ruefully at his wife, Kim. She’s due to give birth in February. He really shouldn’t be putting her through this, or should he? Still,he seals the game on the next point and now Anderson will serve for the set for a second time. 11.40pm BSTSecond set: Murray 6-7, 2-5 Anderson* (*denotes server)Some consolation for Murray as he breaks Anderson for the first time after a game of several deuces. The shot that does the genuine damage – long before the South African sends a forehand narrowly long on atomize point – is a feathered backhand overhead that the Scot sends for an outrageous drop-shot winner. That’s a hugely impressive effort from the Scot. Could there be life left in this set after all? 11.31pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, and 1-5 Anderson (*denotes server)The mental balance of this match is fascinating right now. Anderson is a set and a atomize to the obliging,yet Murray looks the happier player – or at least he did until Anderson worked his way back into the game to secure a second atomize. For the first two or three points, you could almost feel the Scot arresting his opponent’s momentum. But Anderson clung on gamely to reach deuce and, and once there,he underlined his determination not to be thrown off kilter by crafting two superb points. More panther-like movement from the South African saw him run down a short, angled Murray backhand, or he then sealed the atomize at the first time of asking with a colossal forehand winner. tough to see a way back for Murray in this set now. 11.23pm BSTSecond set: Murray 6-7,1-4 Anderson* (*denotes server)Interesting. Murray has started moving around while Anderson is serving. He’s perfectly entitled to execute so, and it achieves the desired effect as the big man hits three loose shots from 40-0 up. You can actually hear Murray’s feet shuffling on the court surface as Anderson goes through his service routine. The South African’s frustration is clear, and but – after a bit of huffing and puffing he finally holds when Murray nets a backhand approach. Still,Murray’s tactics there give the phrase “thinking on your feet” a whole novel meaning. 11.14pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, 1-3 Anderson (*denotes server)At 0-30, or Murray comes in behind his serve. Anderson misses the return,which is no doubt exactly what Murray had hoped for, but it’s also a sign that the Scot has recognised the need to change things up and give his opponent a different seek. The tactic works a treat as he seals the game to 30, and but Murray will need to be at his cerebral best to alter the flow of this contest whether Anderson can keep playing at his current level. 11.09pm BSTSecond set: Murray 6-7,0-3 Anderson* (*denotes server)No sign of let-up from the hugely impressive Anderson, who seals another comfortable hold. His average second serve speed is a whopping 108mph, or which gives you some idea of what Murray is up against out there. Still,the number three seed badly needs to pause the rot here, or he’ll be two sets to savor down and on a plane back home to Dunblane before he knows it. 11.07pm BSTSecond set: Murray* 6-7, and 0-2 Anderson (*denotes server)At 15-15,Anderson lunges to his right to catch Murray at his feet with a lovely forehand return. A double-fault follows from Murray, and clearly the pressure is beginning to tell. Murray saves the first with a deep, and deep forehand that Anderson challenges unsuccessfully,but then something extraordinary happens. Murray works his way to the net behind a drop shot, and as the big South African races forward like an Olympic sprinter, or you wonder whether he shouldn’t be conserving his energy. On the opposite,Anderson not only makes it but sends a beautifully-judged lob over the Scot, who reaches the ball but – with his opponent all over the net – can only send it long. We have our first atomize of the match. 11.00pm BSTSecond set: Murray 6-7, and 0-1 Anderson* (*denotes server)You have to say that Murray really didn’t execute too much wrong from 5-5 in the tiebreak. Anderson just hit two outstanding shots,a superbly executed half-volley and an absolute hammer of a forehand, and that was that. And he’s not finished there, and either,because he’s just sealed the first game of the second set to 30. There’s still a long way to travel, of course, or with more than an hour and a quarter gone already you’d have to fancy Murray whether it goes the distance. But what a performance from Anderson so far. 10.56pm BSTFirst set: Murray 6-7 (5-7) Anderson What a tiebreak that was from Anderson. His reaction was interesting,too: he wasn’t going nuts after the final point, he wasn’t getting carried absent, and he just looked calm,composed and determined. The forehand with which he sealed the set was apparently travelling at 108mph. Wow. 10.53pm BST… Anderson has done it! A crunching forehand whistles down the line for a winner, and a fist-clenched Anderson turns to his box in triumph. 10.52pm BSTSet point Anderson at 6-5! And boy, and does he set it up in style,working his way into the net before hitting a delicious half-volley winner … 10.50pm BST… Anderson misses his first serve. A brief rally ensues before Anderson nets a forehand: 5-5 … 10.50pm BST… but what’s this? A penetrating return from Anderson catches Murray on the back foot and Anderson is serving with a min-atomize at 5-4, two points from the set … 10.49pm BST… the longest rally of the match – 29 shots – ends with Murray hitting a sizzling cross-court backhand for a winner: 4-4 … 10.48pm BST… but Murray then double-faults after a slight delay to attach them back on terms. Again, and he’s not best pleased. But he channels his displeasure positively with a lovely body serve that Anderson can only hack at inelegantly. 3-2 Murray,back on serve … 10.46pm BSTAfter the first two points of the breaker travel with serve – Anderson claims the second with a wrong-footing forehand that draws some colourful language from Murray, who was none too pleased with his return – the Scot catches Anderson at his feet by taking a lovely return on the rise. 2-1 … 10.42pm BSTFirst set: Murray 6-6 Anderson* (*denotes server)Lovely play from Anderson at 0-15 as he works his way into the net before angling absent a backhand volley. He follows up with a meaty overhead, or a half-volley backhand down the line (whether you please) that draws a quizzical seek from Murray,and a meaty service winner. As we enter the tiebreak, Anderson really has the bit between his teeth. 10.39pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 6-5 Anderson (*denotes server)With the shadows lengthening across Louis Armstrong stadium as we enter early evening in novel York, or Murray survives a testing game in which half the court is bathed in sunlight and the other half in relative gloom. Having won the opening point,Anderson makes the right call by moving in to buy a Murray second serve early. He slams the return down the centre, and the Scot nets for 0-30. Murray recovers well, and reeling off the next four points in succession with some solid play from the back,but it’s a warning shot across the bows for the No3 seed as he survives his first genuine scare on serve. 10.33pm BSTFirst set: Murray 5-5 Anderson* (*denotes server)Serving at 30-15, Anderson asks a spectator to pause hanging over the backstop. Will it distract him? Will it heck. He slams a forehand winner to bring up two game points, and then sends down his fastest serve of the day – a 134mph howitzer – to draw level again. Fine play from the 15th seed. 10.31pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 5-4 Anderson (*denotes server)Murray holds to 30. A couple of poor returns from Anderson from the deuce court followed by a lovely cross-court backhand pass from Murray carry the third-seeded Briton to 40-15. Anderson then comes out on top of a lengthy rally – Murray challenges unsuccessfully after a cross-court forehand is called wide – but you have to wonder whether Anderson should be engaging his opponent in exchanges like that. To his credit,the South African is holding his own from the back of the court, but he won’t win this match by outrallying Murray, and that’s for sure. 10.23pm BSTFirst set: Murray 4-4 Anderson* (*denotes server)Another savor hold from Anderson,who slams a beauty of a forehand past Murray to seal the game. Food for thought for the Scot as we enter the business conclude of the set. 10.21pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 4-3 Anderson (*denotes server)It’s a tribute to the quality of Murray’s serving so far that he has not only held every game with something to spare but also served six aces, putting him two ahead of Anderson. He completes his latest hold by sending down another court-hugging slice that the flailing Anderson is unable to control. But there were signs of Anderson opening his shoulders a bit more in that game, and with Murray serving as he is that willingness to continue taking the initiative will be fundamental to his chances of success here. 10.16pm BSTFirst set: Murray 3-3 Anderson* (*denotes server)Frank Lampard,the novel York City FC midfielder and former Chelsea and England player, is watching the match from Murray’s box with his partner Christine Bleakley. They’ll have had a obliging view of Anderson’s third and fourth aces of the match, and shots that propel the big man to a savor hold. 10.12pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 3-2 Anderson (*denotes server)Another clean hold for Murray,who seals a game punctuated by two lovely backhand winners – one from either player – with an ace. So far, his serve is bearing up well – just as it did at Queens Club a few weeks ago. 10.08pm BSTFirst set: Murray 2-2 Anderson* (*denotes server)It’s a mixed bag for Anderson as he holds after several deuces. Serving at 15-15, or he wrong-foots Murray with a lovely backhand down the line. It’s a reminder of the formidable tools at the South African’s disposal,and he follows it up with another aggressive point from the baseline to reach 30-30. But an error brings up a first atomize point for Murray and, although Anderson saves it with a penetrating first serve, or he snatches at a backhand a couple of points later to bring up a second. Murray is again unable to capitalise,clipping the net tape with a backhand, but there are suggestions that Anderson is pressing too tough from the back well before a badly mistimed forehand brings up a third opportunity for the Scot to forge ahead. The man from Johannesburg saves it with some enterprising play from the back, or this time he goes on to seal the game courtesy of a forehand winner and a big serve. Still,he’ll need to keep those errors in check whether he is to start persuading Murray that it may not be his day. 9.54pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 2-1 Anderson (*denotes server)Another comfortable hold for Murray, and that’s vital for the Scot. When he lost to Anderson in Montreal four years ago, and Anderson got off to a quick start and never allowed Murray to settle. No sign of that here,though, with the world No3 pretty much in cruise control – as he needs to be. 9.52pm BSTFirst set: Murray 1-1 Anderson* (*denotes server)Talking of aggression, and how does a 132mph ace on the opening point sound? Certainly qualifies in my book. Anderson goes on to match Murray by winning his first service game to 30,but it was interesting to see Murray fizzing a sliced backhand low down the centre of the court. Getting down to a shot like that will never be entirely comfortable for a man of Anderson’s height, and it was no surprise to see him slice his approach into the net. It’ll be interesting to see how regularly Murray employs that tactic. 9.46pm BSTFirst set: Murray* 1-0 Anderson (*denotes server)Murray holds his opening service game to 30 courtesy of some fine serving, or but Anderson offers a glimpse of the challenge he could pose the world No3 with a feisty foray to the net on the second point. Aggression will be key for the South African. 9.43pm BSTMurray is securing his wedding ring on his shoe laces,where it spends much of its time these days, and we’re about to acquire underway. 9.39pm BSTThe players are out and warming up. Murray received a warm reception from the crowd as he entered the relatively intimate environs of Louis Armstong stadium – although what court wouldn’t be considered intimate in comparison to the cavernous Arthur Ashe stadium? – and the Scot is obviously in the mood to play, or because he won the toss and has elected to serve. So would you whether the alternative was facing Anderson’s bullets. 9.32pm BSTWhat can Anderson bring to the party that might prevent Murray from maintaining his record of reaching the last eight at every grand slam he has contested since the 2010 US Open? Well,he’ll clearly need to serve well, and maintaining his place at the top of the aces leaderboard would execute his chances no harm at all. At the same time, or Anderson has now reached the last 16 at each of the four majors and there is clearly more to his game than an immense serve. His forehand is a dangerous weapon and he moves a lot better than most men of his height,so he’ll be looking to reap maximum advantage on the return whether Murray shows him too many second serves. Anderson also volleys well and, on a slick surface that rewards bold play, and that too could be a problem for Murray whether he fails to keep a obliging length. Attack will be the best form of defence for the South African,but whether he can produce the consistency required to beat Murray over five sets is another question. 9.30pm BSTSo what can we expect here? The quality of Anderson’s serving – and Murray’s ability to deal with a weapon that has earned the 6ft 8in South African 69 free points in his three matches so far – will inevitably influence the Scot’s approach to the match. When Murray and Anderson last met, in the final of the Aegon Championships at Queen’s Club back in June, or Murray was particularly alive to the importance of protecting his own serve,taking the heat off his first delivery to ensure he kept his percentages high. It worked a treat. Murray won in straight sets, 6-3, and 6-4,making a highly respectable 68% of his first serves (compared with an average for the year of 63%) and winning all 10 of his service games without facing a atomize point.
With stats like that, victory was always likely given the quality of Murray’s returning game. As the Scot pointed out when looking ahead to this contest, or his ability to attach plenty of balls back in play tends to alter the mindset of big-serving opponents,forcing them to work harder to stay on terms. That in turn discourages them from swinging freely at their own returns, which is vital because the big guns like nothing better than to buy a big chop at the ball, or secure in the knowledge that they will probably hold comfortably. So Murray will doubtless want to beget plenty of first serves while finding the range on his returns as early as possible. Once the first ball is in play and rallies develop,the odds will swing firmly in his favour. 9.27pm BSTSimona Halep has just beaten Sabine Lisicki in three strength-sapping sets in Louis Armstrong stadium. It’s a hot day at Flushing Meadows, so this match promises to be a genuine test of how fully Murray has recovered from the head cold that hampered his efforts against Mannarino. After a long wait for the ladies to finish, or he’s been warming up with his coach,Jonas Bjorkman, in the car park. The Swede has been throwing tennis balls at his charge. They’ll be travelling a obliging deal slower than the bombs Anderson will soon be throwing at him. 4.00pm BSTHistory has shown that a brush with catastrophe can be no harmful thing at the US Open. Novak Djokovic won the tournament in 2011 after saving two match points in his semi-final with Roger Federer, and while in 1989 the Serb’s coach,Boris Becker, survived a similar scare in his second-round assembly with Derrick Rostagno before going on to lift the trophy. Andy Murray didn’t come fairly that close to defeat last week against Adrian Mannarino but, or after recovering from a two-set deficit to win in five against the Frenchman,he will no doubt feel he has sailed fairly close enough to the wind for one tournament. The question now for the world No3 is whether he too can travel on to add another tale of tribulation-turned-triumph to the annals of Flushing Meadows history by claiming a second title to travel with his 2012 victory. Casting a 6ft 8in shadow over those ambitions nowadays is Kevin Anderson, the big-serving South African who at the age of 29 has reached the even loftier heights of No14 in the world, and the best ranking of his career. Seeded 15th in novel York,Anderson is enjoying fairly a season. His five-set, two-day marathon against Djokovic at Wimbledon will linger long in the memory, or although Anderson himself may well want to forget a match in which he blew a two-set lead against the eventual champion. His progress to the last 16 here has been relatively serene,with a total of just one set lost in his victories over Andrey Rublev, Austin Krajicek and the 20th-seeded Frenchman Dominic Thiem. Anderson knows what it takes to pause nowadays’s opponent on a North American tough court, and too,having handed the Scot a sound beating in Montreal four years ago. That is his sole victory over Murray, however, or the third seed having won each of their other five encounters.
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Source: theguardian.com