Page last updated at 08:02 GMT, Monday, 26 January 2009
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7849606.stm
Murray sent crashing by Verdasco
By Piers Newbery
Britain's Andy Murray saw his hopes of winning a first Grand Slam title
at the Australian Open end with a five-set defeat by Fernando Verdasco.
The Spaniard, ranked 15 in the world, prevailed 2-6 6-1 1-6 6-3 6-4
in the fourth round in Melbourne.
Murray twice led by a set but could not find any consistency and in the
end the power and aggression of Verdasco's game proved too much.
Verdasco will play 2008 finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last eight.
He played too good for me - that's what happens. I'm not here to try and
make excuses for why I lost
Andy Murray
On a hot afternoon in Melbourne, Murray produced a desperately uneven
display that will be a major disappointment after his superb start to 2009.
He got nowhere near the form that saw him beat the likes of Rafael Nadal
and Roger Federer in an unbeaten start to the year.
Having won all five of their previous encounters on tour, and in the form
of his life, the Briton began as a strong favourite.
And with the Spaniard seemingly reluctant to play his usual aggressive
game in the early stages, Murray simply lured Verdasco into mistakes as he
broke twice to take the opening set comfortably.
606: DEBATE
Shame to see Andy Murray go out this morning. He was just out-thought.
eirebilly
But when Verdasco changed his approach in the second set, Murray was
left floundering, and a succession of poor drop shots contributed to his
downfall.
A missed volley in game two handed Verdasco a break of serve and the he
went 4-0 up after converting his sixth break point of an epic fourth game.
Verdasco's heavy forehand was starting to fire and the passive rallying
of the first set was no longer working for Murray, who was broken again as
he dropped the second set.
A lengthy struggle looked on the cards but Murray grabbed the initiative
at the start of the third set and broke three times as he mixed up the pace
more often.
I came back strongly last year and I plan to go and work on my game and
hopefully get better
Andy Murray
The fourth set proved to be a replica of the second, however, as Verdasco
broke immediately and went through the set serving at an incredible 93% to
force a decider.
Murray earned the first break point in game six of a tense final set but
Verdasco responded brilliantly with successive aces, and he held off another
by dominating a magnificent rally with his forehand.
Verdasco made the Scot pay by getting the crucial break in the very next
game and he held his nerve impressively to serve out for victory in three
hours and 12 minutes.
"I don't think it was anything to do with physical, concentration or my
game," Murray said afterwards.
"He played too good for me - that's what happens. I'm not here to try and
make excuses for why I lost."
He added: "I don't know what to say, the guy's a very, very good player.
Sometimes they play better than you and he did today, unfortunately.
"Last year I had a tough loss [against Tsonga in the first round], this year
is obviously a tough loss as well.
"I came back strongly last year and I plan to go and work on my game and
hopefully get better."
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║ソフトバンク,軟體銀行四大天王 ║ＳＯＦＴＢＡＮＫ║ ﹦ ║
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║カズミ サイトウ,トシヤ スギウチ,ナギサ アラカキ,ツヨシ ワダ ║
║192cm,96kg 175cm,82kg 189cm,81kg 179cm,77kg ║
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