Scores updated regularly. REFRESH NOW
|
2019 Brisbane International Men's singles, first round Pat Rafter Arena, Queensland Tennis Centre James Duckworth vs Andy Murray |
|---|
|
||||
|
||||
|
A match with huge potential for an upset headlines the Day 2 action on centre court at the Brisbane International as Australian James Duckworth faces the returning Andy Murray. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from around 2pm (AEDT).
Both of these players are ranked outside the 200, but firmly planted on the comeback trail after struggling with injuries.
Murray, who is a former grand slam champion, has had a lot of time off in the last 12 months, but is firmly on the comeback trail now after some less than promising results rounded out his 2018 season.
After a second-round exit at the US Open, he played some hard court tournaments on the Asian swing, but again struggled to find any consistency or rhythm in his game due to injury problems.
Duckworth, on the other hand, also struggled last year. After the Aussie summer, where he was eliminated in the second round of Australian Open qualifying, he wasn’t sighted again until he used a protected ranking for a first-round exit at the French Open and another for a first-round exit at Wimbledon.
He was able to play more regular tournaments following Wimbledon, but it was with mixed results. The best was a third-round appearance in Washington and a victory at the Cary Challenger tournament.
His last matches of 2018 were the ones which might kick start his 2019 though, as he won the Australian Open wildcard tournament, beating Blake Ellis, Rinky Hijikata, Maverick Barnes and Luke Saville in five-set tennis. His body held up well during the demanding schedule, and if that sort of form continues in 2019, he could scare some good players.
The bottom line is that both of these players are better than their current ranking suggests, so we could be in for a bit of an epic scrap between the two this afternoon.
The pair have had one previous meeting, coming during the 2018 US Open when Murray took four sets to beat Duckworth after dropping the first.
Prediction
Duckworth has match form on his side, but Murray has the class and defensive game to grind his way through. If the troublesome hip is okay, he should get the job done in a grinding performance.
Murray in three sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the match from 2pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Start time: 2pm (AEDT)
Venue: Pat Rafter Arena, Queensland Tennis Centre
TV: Live, Nine Network
Online: Live, 9Now
Betting: Murray $1.29, Duckworth $3.64
Overall record: Played 1, Murray 1, Duckworth 0
Last meeting: 2018 US Open 1st Round – Murray defeat Duckworth 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me on The Roar for our coverage of this one. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We are going straight on now with Nick Kyrgios and Ryan Harrison, so do join me over there. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Andy Murray will play Daniil Medvedev in the second round.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH, ANDY MURRAY Fault. The second is slapped back on a backhand, then Duckworth comes forward, but puts the forehand long. Murray continues his unbeaten streak in Brisbane with a commanding performance over Australian James Duckworth. James Duckworth 3 4 Andy Murray 6 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Murray with a double fault, so there goes the first match point. Duckworth... 3 4 - 15 Murray.......... 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve. Return is sort of rolled back in, then Duckworth puts a forehand into the net. Three match points. Duckworth... 3 4 - 0 Murray.......... 6 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Murray. The second is rolled in out wide and returned with depth, but some excellent defence and a forehand up the line on a passing shot it enough for Murray to win that point. Duckworth... 3 4 - 0 Murray.......... 6 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Murray trying to serve out the match. He starts with a fault, then Duckworth runs around the second for a forehand. Some big hitting from the Aussie, but then a poor drop shot into the net. Duckworth... 3 4 - 0 Murray.......... 6 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
MURRAY BREAKS Duckworth up to the net here, but he drills the overhead straight at Murray who manages to get a very good shot back over. Duckworth then reaches to his left and volleys into the net. Murray will serve for the match. Duckworth... 3 4 - Murray.......... 6 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Duckworth goes out wide. Excellent depth on the return, then a huge forehand. Duckworth defends his way back into a long rally, but slices and dices, then puts a flat forehand into the net. Three break points. Duckworth... 3 4 - 0 Murray.......... 6 4 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Big problem for Duckworth. Drops the first two points on serve. Duckworth... 3 4 - 0 Murray.......... 6 4 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Huge wide serve and Duckworth can't get the return back over. Duckworth... 3 4 - Murray.......... 6 4 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Duckworth not happy with himself there. Regulation backhand into the net. Duckworth... 3 4 - 30 Murray.......... 6 3 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Murray with a serve out wide, then he is forced to defend from beyond baseline. Duckworth invites him back with a high backhand though and the next from the Aussie is long. Duckworth... 3 4 - 30 Murray.......... 6 3 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Really good hitting there from Duckworth. Great depth and now Murray puts an off balance backhand into the net. Duckworth... 3 4 - 30 Murray.......... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Duckworth reaches for a serve down the middle here and it heads long. Duckworth... 3 4 - 15 Murray.......... 6 3 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Murray now puts a backhand wide on the run. There is a challenge, but that well and truly out. Duckworth... 3 4 - 15 Murray.......... 6 3 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Duckworth down the T again and he holds. Duckworth... 3 4 - Murray.......... 6 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Duckworth goes down the T. Duckworth... 3 3 - AD Murray.......... 6 3 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Duckworth probably didn't deserve to win that point, but some really ordinary passing shots from Murray allow Duckworth to put the backhand volley away. Duckworth... 3 3 - deuce (1) Murray.......... 6 3 -