French Open Day 3 - Murray And Watson Back On Track

For Andy Murray and Heather Watson 2013 was a year full of ups and downs.

Murray’s back surgery in late September meant he missed the final months of tour last year, and despite his triumph at Wimbledon the British number one dropped out of the world’s top five for the first time since 2008.

Watson on the other hand started last year as one of the top 50 players in the Women’s game, but suffered a major setback after contracting glandular fever.  This left her unprepared at the big events last summer causing a subsequent slip back down the rankings.

However after a tough few months the British pair both appear well on course to steer their respective careers back on track as yesterday they progressed to the second round of this year’s French Open.

After missing Roland Garros last year Murray’s opening match against world number 53 Andrey Golubev had the potential to be tough encounter and the Brit didn’t have it all his own way before finally prevailing 6-1 6-4 3-6 6-3

For two sets at least Murray was in fine form, his superb returning and solid defence was simply too much for Golubev who was attempting winners from all areas of the court but failing to consistently hit his targets.

The one negative for Murray was that his serve was dwindling well below its usual level. At one stage in the third set the Brit’s first serve percentage was only fractionally above 30% and Golubev capitalised to convert three of his five break points.

Murray will be the first to know those stats will have to improve if he is to progress over the next fortnight, however his assured recovery in the fourth set was a sign that he is rediscovering his best form and as expected will challenge deep into the second week.

For Watson who is currently ranked 92^nd in the world her straight sets win over Czech Barbora Zahlavova Strycova was a major step forward in a bid to reinstate herself as a top 50 player.

In comparison Zahlavova Strycova has a ranking of 63 but came out second best to Watson who after qualifying for the main draw last week thoroughly deserved her 6-3 6-4 victory in this first round encounter earning a second round clash against Romanian 4^th seed Simona Halep.

The shock of the day came in the first match on the Philippe Chatrier where this year’s Australian Open winner and 2^nd seed Li Na was sent packing after losing 7-5 3-6 6-1 to France’s Kristina Mladenovic.

That result meant that for the first time in history the Australia Open Champion’s from in both the men’s and women’s draw had both lost in the first round in Paris following Stanislas Wawrinka dismissal the previous day.

In the men’s draw there was a surprise defeat for Grigor Dimitrov at the hands of big serving giant Ivo Karlovic, elsewhere David Ferrer and home favourites Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet all progressed.