Men's singles fourth round latest:

R GASQUET (Fra) 8 * v A MURRAY (GB) 12

4-4

* denotes server

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111.

Gasquet 4-4 Murray
There's the drop-shot dilemma for Murray - one leaves Gas flailing in the distance but the second curls and dies into the net. Two crunching serves give him advantage, but a flopsy second serve is drilled back at pace and Murray can only clunk it into the net. When Gasquet whooshes one of his killer backhands down the line he has break point, but Murray shocks him by coming to the net behind a second serve to punch away the volley. Gas then over-reaches with his overhead to a Murray lob and the Brit battler is off the hook. Nervous times.

Gasquet 4-3 Murray
You can't slide a cigarette paper between these two. Murray forehands with sweet timing to get to 30-30, only for Le Gas to pop away a volley that would have pleased Boris.

Gasquet 3-3 Murray
The shadow from the Centre Court roof stretches almost to Murray's feet as he leaps into his serve and batters one down the middle. Warm applause from the crowd, led by a woman with reddish hair wearing a Scottish saltire as a make-shift scarf.

Gasquet 3-2 Murray
Murray's glamourpuss ladyfriend Kim Sears leans forward in her VIP seat as a weak Gas forehand plops into the net to make it 30-30, but a hammering ace from the Frenchman saves the day. It also catches a female line-judge just under the chin. With old-fashioned British pluck she laughs it off, before blinking away the tears as soon as the cameras are off her.

Gasquet 2-2 Murray
Great gambling from Murray at 15-30 - a casually tossed-in drop-shot which brings Gas scampering in before a forehead lob completes the job. He then runs round his backhand and drills a flat forehand cross-court to seal the game. A woman in a crimson blouse scratches her arms with the scary vigour of a flea-bothered hound.

Gasquet 2-1 Murray
If you haven't seen the Gasquet backhand before, it's a thing of delicate wonder - the sort of shot that makes you think tennis is the easiest game in the world. A ripper down the line leaves Murray stretching into nothingness.

Gasquet 1-1 Murray
Hello - there's Cliff Richard, the first time he's been spotted at this year's tournament, wearing a powder-blue blazer with dark blue tie. Rather prim look on his chops as Murray sizzles a whippy forehand cross-court to get himself on the board.

Gasquet 1-0 Murray
Groans from the crowd as Murray duffs a backhand volley into the net and boots the rebounding ball back into the divider. Gasquet creams one of his dreamy backhands down the line and Murray simmers.

1729: A little pre-match stattage for you: Murray's played Gasquet twice before, and he lost them both. On the bright side, Murray is on a six-match winning streak against Frenchmen. I quite like that last one.

1724: Giddy applause from the eager patrons as the two players stroll onto court. Murray produces a plastic bag containing six enormous bottles of blackcurrant squash and dumps it at the feet of a ball-boy.

1720: Some chat from TIm Henman as he banters with Sue Barker: "I like Andy's attitude. He believes he can win every game he plays."

1715:A lot of pinking shoulders around Centre Court today - it's a burner of a sun up ahead today, but the cooling breeze has fooled some tennis-focused punters. Not textbook.

1710: Now then - this is a match, eh? Apparently Murray prepared for this clash by going out for an Italian meal last night with Mama Judy, bro Jamie (with his newly-shaved head) and his granny and grandad, before watching the Euro 2008 final. Textbook.

(BBC)

<< Back