Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic borth came back from big deficits in the round, to just about sneak into the QFs. Murray was literally on the verge of being dumped out, after Grigor Dimitrov held match-point and led by 4-1 in the 2nd and 5-2 in the 3rd sets. But somehow Murray recovered from 2-5 down, to storm back and steal the win: 7-5. World No1 Djokovic on the other hand was crushed in the 2nd set by David Goffin, who then raced out to a 3-0 lead in the decider. However the Mighty Serbian then romped to victory with 6 games on the trot. In the Women’s singles, Simona Halep continued her push for the No2 ranking, with a dogged 3 set win over dangerous German: Andrea Petkovic.
Cincinnati Masters: MS Day 4, 3rd rd
Murray bt Dimitrov: 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5 & Djokovic bt Goffin: 6-4, 2-6, 6-3
Andy Murray must count himself a very lucky man, after escaping from the jaws of defeat, on several occasions against Grigor Dimitrov.
Dimitrov who has tumbled down the rankings after reaching the top 10 last year, was playing some of his best tennis in a long while.
Owning 2 wins over Murray, Dimitrov was clearly troubling the World No2. The Bulgarian edged the Olympic champ 6-4 in the first set, before racing out to a 4-1 lead in the 2nd.
With just 2 games away from his biggest victory in a long time, Dimitrov crumbled and allowed Murray back in. Serving for the match, but Murray got his man, by breaking back and forcing a tie-break.
Murray then eased through the breaker 7-3, and level at a set apiece.
So you think the momentum was clearly on the Scot’s side. Wrong, because Dimitrov then got another huge lead, this time leading 5-2.
Dimitrov was now 1 game away from a big win, surely he wouldn’t waste such a precious opportunity for the 2nd time.
We were wrong again, as Murray then battled his way back, game by game and get within 1 game of levelling at 5-4.
That’s when Dimitrov got his best chance to beat Murray, bringing up MP. Grigor however wasted it, sending a forehand return long and thus allowing Andy back to 5-5.
After all of that, Murray basically sucked the wind out of Dimitrov’s sail, by winning the next two games for the epic 7-5 victory.
The King of Tennis- Novak Djokovic also had a scare, but not one as frightening as Andy Murray’s.
The undisputed No1 of men’s tennis who lost to Murray in the Final of the Rogers Cup, is attempting a landmark feat this week, of completing a career Golden Masters 1000 set.
The Cincy Masters I the only 1000 tournament that Djokovic has yet to win and the Serbian is determined to make history.
That history though was nearly over in the Final set against the fast-rising and ever improving Belgian: David Goffin.
Just like Murray, Novak claimed the opener by 6-4. But come the 2nd set, Goffin came out guns blazing, cruising to win it by 6-2.
Novak in the deciding set then dropped alarmingly, as Goffin won the first 3 games.
But Djokovic hasn’t been the best player for the past 3-4 years for nothing and he showed that in abundance, by nabbing victory from Goffin’s hands. 6 games later on the bounce and Novak was into the last 8.
3rd rd results:
2-Roger Federer (Switzerland) beat 15-Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 6-1 6-1
Feliciano Lopez (Spain) beat 8-Rafa Nadal (Spain) 5-7 6-4 7-6(3)
6-Tomas Berdych (Czech Republic) beat Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-0 6-1
5-Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) beat Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 6-7(2) 7-6(5) 7-6(5)
Alexandr Dolgopolov (Ukraine) beat Jerzy Janowicz (Poland) 6-3 3-6 6-4
12-Richard Gasquet (France) beat 7-Marin Cilic (Croatia) 7-5 6-3
WS Day 4, 3rd rd:
Halep bt Petkovic: 4-6, 6-4, 6-2
Simona Halep continued her recent resurgence, beating Andrea Petkovic to reach the QFs.
The Romanian lost badly before the QFs of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon and got her season back on track, after finishing runner-up to Bencic last week in Toronto.
Petkovic though looked on course for a great win, when leading 6-4 and 3-2 in the 2nd set.
From there on in however, Halep flipped the switch and burst into life. 4 games in a row and the set was hers: 6-4.
After that, Petko got 2 games on the board, but Halep was way too solid and soon ran out a 6-2 victor.
3rd rd results:
14-Elina Svitolina (Ukraine) beat Caroline Garcia (France) 6-0 6-3
6-Ana Ivanovic (Serbia) beat Sloane Stephens (U.S.) 2-6 6-4 6-1
1-Serena Williams (U.S.) beat Karin Knapp (Italy) 6-0 6-2
Jelena Jankovic (Serbia) beat 8-Karolina Pliskova (Czech Republic) 6-2 3-6 7-5
Anna Karolina Schmiedlova (Slovakia) beat Varvara Lepchenko (U.S.) 6-3 3-6 6-4
7-Lucie Safarova (Czech Republic) beat Belinda Bencic (Switzerland) 6-2 0-0 (Bencic retired)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (Russia) beat Victoria Azarenka (Belarus) 1-6 3-0 (Azarenka retired)
All Things Tennis- from Hamza Shakeel 