Andy Murray survived what he described as a ‘ridiculous’ 31-minute tiebreak last night to show that his competitive streak remains intact after his Australian Open disappointment.
The world No 1 is into the semi-finals of the Dubai Duty Free Championships after seeing off world No 29 Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, having saved seven match points.
Murray needed eight set-points before winning the second set tiebreak 20-18, the equal longest on the ATP Tour in 26 years.
It is 10 years since the last 20-18 tiebreak and such was the kerfuffle that the players forgot to change ends at 15-15. Murray lost the first tiebreak after serving two double faults but held his nerve in the marathon before taking the deciding set.
‘I’ve been playing on the tour for 11, 12 years and I’ve never played a tiebreak like that,’ said Murray. ‘The way I played when I was behind will give me a lot of confidence after what was a tough start to the year.’
Meanwhile, the new president of the French Tennis Federation Bernard Giudicelli has cast doubt on whether Maria Sharapova will be granted a wildcard for the French Open - the first Grand Slam after her doping ban ends.
Giudicelli told French newspaper L’Equipe that no decision had been made, but that he would be reluctant. ‘We can’t invest €1.5million in the fight against anti-doping and then invite a player sanctioned for taking a prohibited product,’ he said.
Aljaz Bedene has lost his latest appeal against the International Tennis Federation’s decision not to allow him to play in the Davis Cup for Britain. Bedene, a UK citizen after a long-term residence in Hertfordshire, has played for his native Slovenia, albeit only in dead rubbers.