Andy Murray v Feliciano López – live! | Evan Fanning

• Hit F5 to refresh or turn on the automatic widget below • Email thoughts and chat to evanfanning@gmail.com • Follow all today’s game and more in our daily live blog • Follow Evan on Twitter, if that’s your thing First set: Murray* 5-2 Lopez Murray holds serve comfortably which allows us to put on our casting agent hats once more. “Less Deliciano, more Christopher Lambert in Greystoke mode surely?” writes Yvonne Fletcher. Now we’re getting somewhere. “I’m happy with Ewan MacGregor as Andy, and surely it’s Maggie Smith as Judy Murray?” writes Integra. “I’m wondering about Javier Bardem as Deliciano, mainly because I just watched Biutiful last night and can’t get him out of my head. He’s probably a bit too ugly and a bit too hairy though. Maybe if Wilkinson Sword sponsored him as well…..” I think this man needs to play one of the Murray brothers. First set: Murray 4-2 Lopez* Murray breaks Lopez and pumps his fist in celebration after a game that felt like it was going to go on forever. Murray three times had break point and sensed blood for the opening point when Lopez tried a very deft drop shot which turns out to be a very foolish drop shot as it hits the net. Lopez challenges a call mid-point and it was the right decision as the ball is seen to be well inside the baseline (although it’s later confirmed that Lopez’s serve on that point was out but was missed by both Murray and the umpire). Murray then challenges a call after a fantastic rally where Lopez was at the net but on the back foot, but somehow found return after return and eventually pushed Murray to the backline and his return was between the tramlines, as Hawkeye confirms. It doesn’t put Murray off and he eventually takes the game after yet another attempt at a drop shot from Lopez hits the net. First set: Murray* 3-2 Lopez A less impressive service game this time round from Murray, but he still manages to hold serve (losing a challenge on the way). “Were the genders different,” writes Paul Szabo. “We might have a Mrs. Robinson/’Graduate’ situation, eh? I can see Dustin Hoffman playing the Lopez part quite easily, long hair and all.” Assuming the situation is at is is, who today would play the three protagonists in the picture above. Ewan McGregor as Andy Murray? First set: Murray 2-2 Lopez* It’s going with serve so far. Lopez is looking to get to the net at every opportunity and he shows how dangerous he is if his serve and volley game goes according to plan winning two successive points. He’s less impressive from the backline, hitting the net when he really should have done better but is rescued by his serve as an ace wins the game. Tom Gardiner has an idea: “Don’t you think if tennis was the kind of game where sledging went on, Lopez has an open goal two yards out? Imagine what Shane Warne would have made of the opportunity Judy Murray has presented ‘Deliciano’.” First set: Murray* 2-1 Lopez Murray holds serve comfortably, losing just one point and winning the game with a lovely cross-court forehand which Lopez didn’t even bother chasing. “Re the shaved legs,” writes Gary Naylor, “cyclists do it not to minimise wind resistance, but to ensure that scrapes, burns and road rash wounds do not become infected and so heal more quickly. It probably helps the soigneurs in their massaging at the end of the day too. And it does improve looks, though Snr Lopez doesn’t look like he needs much help in that department – unlike his opponent.” Whatever the reason it gets Judy Murray going. First set: Murray 1-1 Lopez* Lopez holds serve after a scrappy game. The Spaniard produced his first double-fault – his 18th of the tournament so far, which is relatively low. Lopez also has his first (unsuccessful) challenge of the game. Both make unforced errors, Lopez coming at game point, but a a poor Murray drop shot allows Lopez to take the advantage once again and this time Murray can’t clear the net as he returned a booming serve. First set: Murray* 1-0 Lopez Murray wins the game to love and that will settle whatever nerves he has. A lovely, gentle opening point that was so laid-back they could have had a conversation while playing it. Murray then steps it hitting two aces – the second his 50th of the tournament, half of what Lopez has hit – to take the game. Lopez, incidentally, has newly-shaved legs. Why does he do that? We’re about to start but there are very few people in Centre Court. They’ve all gone for refreshment following the epic Tsonga-Federer match. Andy Murray to serve … “The Americans are not even broadcasting his match,” says Daniel John McGrath. “On their Telly. Which is a pretty ugly snub.” That’s the kind of stirring statement that needs to be stuck on Andy Murray’s dressing room door. And Feliciano Lopez’s door come to think of it. Game-by-game exclusive (from the Johann Hari school of exclusives – i.e. they just said it on BBC) Feliciano Lopez expects Judy Murray to support her son in today’s game. He didn’t mention anything about dinner tonight. Kenny MacLeod has a dance for Andy. “The Sword Dance – and with sponsorship: The Wilkinson Sword Dance.” You, sir, should be an agent. Reasons for Andy Murray to be worried … Feliciano López has already hit 100 aces in this year’s tournament, more than any of the remaining players. Murray’s biggest area of weakness so far has been his serve return. Just in case you haven’t heard the gasps of disbelief I should tell you that Jo-Wilfried Tsonga came from two sets down to beat Roger Federer and reach the last four . He then produced a truly spectacular version of his trademark dance. Andy Murray needs a trademark dance, but what should it be? Answers to the usual address. Preamble There are some interesting betting markets on this game. Not so much on whether Andy Murray will defeat Feliciano López and reach a third straight Wimbledon semi-final (that’s a ridiculously short 1-10), but instead the focus is on Judy Murray, who has expressed her admiration for her son’s opponent, the man she calls ‘Deliciano’ López. You can get 20-1 on Judy wolf-whistling at López at some stage (the bet of the day as far as I’m concerned), and you can get the same price on the Spaniard blowing Judy a kiss from the court. It’s 30-1 that they’ll be spotted having a romantic dinner somewhere in SW19 later tonight so if you work in a nearby restaurant and have just taken a booking for a table for two under the name J Murray I would pop round to your nearest bookies as soon as you can. Given that we know that Judy ♥ Feliciano, has anyone bothered finding out if Feliciano ♥ Judy? If he does, we could pack the two of them off behind the Wimbledon bike shed and give Andy a bye into the next round. Would this be a satisfactory outcome for Andy? To exchange seeing his mother disappear into the sunset with a rival in exchange for a place in the semi? That’s the big question of the day. That, and why is there no love for Mardy Fish? Wimbledon 2011 Andy Murray Tennis Wimbledon Evan Fanning guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 29, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.