Wounded Murray Battles Through

Couldn’t move, couldn’t serve and a match that was increasingly slipping away. Yet Andy Murray was able to battle through injury to dramatically book his place in round three of this year’s French Open.

The Brit, who had missed the Madrid Open earlier this month with a back problem, required numerous treatments on his lower back disrupting his movement and service action. Murray’s consistent performances in the slams has seen him reach the semi-final or better in the last five occasions. But after succumbing to a 6-1 4-2 deficit to Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen the number

It looked like Murray's tournament was over

four seed looked to be in serious danger of a shock exit in Paris. However a relentless Murray steadily improved his fitness as he fought back to his best recording a 1-6 6-4 6-1 6-2 victory.

Murray stepped on to the Phillipe Chatrier court, after a comfortable first round win with no signs of his past problems. However against Nieminen the British number one started slowly conceding an early break. Then in the fourth game it was clear that something was wrong, as Murray’s ability to serve suddenly deserted him and it seemed his tournament was all but over.

Impossible to stay away from distraction Nieminen was able to hold his nerve sealing the opening set while the crowds applause was almost in sympathy for Murray rather than praise for the Finn. Nieminen was then quick to break at the start of the second, but the match was now his to lose as he made crucial errors allowing the Brit to level at 4-4. Murray, now appearing to be recovering, saved three break points on serve before being handed the set by his mesmerised opponent.

From then on it wasn’t a contest as Murray’s movement got better and better showing the difference in class between the two players. Nieminen just had nothing to hurt Murray from the back of the court as the world number four dominated the base line rallies before taking a comfortable third set.

The capitulation of Nieminen’s game continued in the fourth now looking lost and unsure what had happened. While Murray, now striking the ball with ease, was using all of the court to intimidate his opponent. Errors continued to fly off Nieminen’s racket as he finally handed Murray the match in

The scale of Murray’s injury remains unclear, as he will now face Colombian Santiago Giraldo in round three. But one thing that is clear is that Murray will not win the tournament if his back causes him to play like he did in the first set.