Andy Murray vs Adrian Mannarino: Five things we learned
Saturday 5 September 2015 18:12, UK
Five things we learned from Andy Murray's battling win over Adrian Mannarino at the US Open...
Murray made to work again
The Scot's demanding start to the tournament continued against the Frenchman as he was forced to go the full five-set distance after dropping the first two sets.
His refusal to panic, despite the threat of an early exit, was another demonstration of his mental strength, but there are genuine concerns about his physical condition.
A match lasting nearly three and a half hours will surely have taken its toll on Murray, especially in the sweltering conditions that forced the withdrawal of American Mardy Fish.
Title rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer have barely broken sweat, whereas Murray was also extended in his opening clash with Nick Kyrgios, and could be running on empty by the time he meets a main contender.
Do not make Murray mad
It does not take much to rouse the emotional Murray and his temperament was severely tested when Mannarino, not once but twice, blasted the ball straight at him.
Murray has learned to channel his anger effectively in recent years and he took the fight to the Frenchman with a string of winners.
But the Brit could not resist a retaliatory blow towards Mannarino and fired the ball back at his wilting opponent as he regained command.
The knockout blow came when Murray sent down his 21st ace, a fitting end to an entertaining physical battle.
Rallying to victory
Murray again proved that he can conjure up precious points with his stubborn refusal to give up on rallies.
Mounting a determined defence, Murray rescued himself from desperate positions to the delight of the watching crowd.
Such displays of defiance appeared to eat away at Mannarino's confidence and he could not keep the charging world No 3 at bay.
Serving up problems
Sky Sports expert Greg Rusedski pointed to Murray's second serve as one of the main reasons for his struggles against Mannarino.
He conceded decisive breaks in the first and second sets, with Mannarino latching on to tame deliveries, and Rusedski fears that more dangerous foes would take full advantage.
He's got to add a little more variety to it. Get out on the practice courts, hit a few more second serves.
He told Sky Sports: "It's textbook. Roger Federer was one of the first players to do that, to really pound the second serve of Murray.
"All of a sudden, he gets into defensive capabilities. When you give Murray rhythm, he gets better, this way you give him no rhythm.
"He's got to add a little more variety to it. Get out on the practice courts, hit a few more second serves.
"Be more brave on it. It doesn't necessarily need more speed, it needs more accuracy to put an opponent off balance."
Mannarino the nearly man
The world No 35 had previously beaten Stan Wawrinka and almost picked up a victory over a second top 10 ranked player.
He started the match with a string of eye-catching winners, immediately forcing the 2012 champion on to the back foot, and there would have been genuine concerns in the Murray camp as he continued to find the corners with unerring accuracy.
But he has never ventured past the fourth round at a Grand Slam and appeared to lack belief when Murray mounted his comeback in the third set.
Mannarino will have departed the competition with plenty of regrets, despite improving on his previous display against Murray, a straight-sets defeat.
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