Andy on the rise despite Rome defeat
Andy Murray climbed four places to 14th in the world rankings after the Rome Masters – but was left to rue a series of missed chances following his second-round defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka.
Andy Murray climbed four places to 14th in the world rankings after the Rome Masters – but was left to rue a series of missed chances following his second-round defeat to Stanislas Wawrinka.
The RBS ambassador went down 6-2, 7-6 to the Swiss number two, stalling his preparations for the French Open. But in losing, Andy also missed a great chance to reach the latter stages of the tournament after Rafael Nadal, his likely third-round opponent, suffered a rare defeat at the hands of Juan Carlos Ferrero.
"I had some chances in the tiebreak and missed a couple of balls that I probably shouldn't have," said Andy, who remained upbeat about his clay-court game.
"My expectations for the clay season weren't to go and win these tournaments. I wanted to learn how to play and move again on the clay, and start to feel comfortable.
"I feel like I'm starting to play my game a bit better. I need to play more matches and get physically stronger, win matches and get some confidence on the surface. Then I feel like I'll be able to win more matches."
Andy had progressed to the last 32 when his first-round opponent, Juan Martin Del Potro, retired with a back injury in the deciding third set.
It was the Scot's turn to require the services of the trainer against Wawrinka – at 1-4 in an indifferent opening set. However, he refused to use the treatment to an apparent groin injury as an excuse.
"The first set 'Stan' played much better than me; the second set I had some chances. I was a break up for the majority of it, and, yeah, I had a few chances and didn't take them."
Wawrinka broke back in the eighth game of the second set and went on to lead 5-4. Andy saved four match points on serve but a lacklustre serving display in the tiebreak signalled the end.
With Roger Federer another early loser, Wawrinka went on to reach the final, losing 4-6, 6-3, 6-3 to the word number three, Novac Djokovic.
Meanwhile, RBS ambassador Jamie Murray and partner Max Mirnyi lost 6-4, 6-4 to American brothers Mike and Bob Bryan in the Rome doubles.
