Andy Murray progresses with straight-sets victory over Tomas Robredo
Home-favourite win 6-2 6-4 7-5 as he cruises past Spaniard on Centre Court
Andy Murray continued his serene progress at Wimbledon 2013 last night easing past Tommy Robredo and into the fourth round with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-5 victory. It was his third successive straight sets win and the Scot has yet to even be taken to a tie-break.
Inclement weather meant the Centre Court roof was closed but the rain did not deter fans watching the action on the big screen from under a forest umbrellas on Murray Mount. They were rewarded for their loyalty with a dominant performance by the British No.1. Robredo, 29 in the world, did not play poorly but Murray had too much guile and power.
Murray admitted his opponent had taken time to adapt to the conditions but felt he became increasingly comfortable in them. “I'd have thought it was the first time for him playing indoors on grass,” said Murray. “He started serving very well in the third set but I managed to get the break.”
The most satisfying aspect of his performance, Murray added, was that “I struck the ball very well. I went for a lot of winners. I served well in the first two games but di d not hit the all so well, tonight I hit the ball better from the back of the court. I hope I can keep playing better, but I have been pushed in my matches. I want to stay concentrated. Upsets are never far away. There are young guys looking to making a breakthrough.”
Murray broke early in the first set and went to take it in 34 minutes but the second was a tighter affair with Murray's early break within a point of being cancelled out before stepped up a gear to win. Since Robredo had thrice come back in the French Open from two sets down to win a wag might have suggested he now had Murray exactly where he wanted him. But those victories were not against opponents of Murray's calibre.
Murray did have to wait until the 11 game of the third set to secure his break, but once he had it a fortunate net cord, an ace, a serve-and-volley and a return into the net from Rebredo settled the issue after two hours, one minute..
Murray now meets either Russia's Mikhail Youzhny, at 20 the highest remaining seed in Murray's half of the draw, or Viktor Troicki, of Serbia, who put out the No.14 Janko Tipsarevic.
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