Fuente : Wimbledon
http://www.wimbledon.org

WIMBLEDON: Marray Makes Malisse Fight

/noticias.info/ Tuesday, June 21, 2005

In an exciting five-set first round match, Xavier Malisse of Belgium beat Britain's Jonathan Marray 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

This was the first time the two 24-year-olds have met. On paper it looked an uneven contest: Malisse, the Belgian No.1, ranked 51 versus Marray, a wild card entrant, at 272.

Malisse was a semi-finalist in 2002 and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon last year, retiring with an injured left lower back in his match against Mario Ancic. But he has not performed particularly well at either the Australian Open or at Roland Garros this year.

Despite this being Marray's fourth Wimbledon, he has never got past the first round, although he showed good form at Nottingham this year, reaching the final.

The deeply bronzed and pony-tailed Malisse had the pale-skinned, red-head Marray running all over the court in the opening games and this early form suggested the Belgian would wrap up the match in straight sets.

But early in the second set Malisse appeared to become a little ill-at-ease, and Marray took full advantage, flourishing in both this and the third set. In a cracking second set, Marray used his full range of shots across the whole court, winning many points with elegant, stylish half-court pick ups off his ankles. His classy serve and volley tactics and sliced backhands contrasted dramatically with the power and strength of some of Malisse's strokes.

Marray took a 3-0 lead in the final set but was unable to turn this into a victory. The Belgian won the next five games, displaying stamina, strength and resilience. Despite Marray clawing back one game, Malisse served to finish the epic match, which lasted two hours and 49 minutes.

Written by Sally Easton


Court 18 - Gentlemen's Singles - 1st Round
Jonathan Marray GBR 3 6 6 1 4
Xavier Malisse BEL 6 3 2 6 6 notas_de_prensa_archivo