Gamewatch: Murray v Seppi

Nottingham Open

Quarter-final result:

A MURRAY (GB) v A SEPPI (Ita)

6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-6

---

Game-by-game updates:

Third set:

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-6 Seppi
Murray just has time to throw his racquet a few more times before Seppi clinches victory and a place in the semi-finals.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-5 Seppi
Murray is really losing his cool now - thrashing a ball into the net as a double fault gives Seppi the chance to serve for the match.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-4 Seppi
Murray's racquet takes some more punishment as his attempted drop shot falls into the net and then a return hits the net. Seppi consolidates the break - and Murray's body language tells only of despair.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-3 Seppi
Murray lets the frustration of the last game get to him. A double fault gives Seppi two break points and though he saves the first, Seppi produces a delicate drop volley to move ahead.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-2 Seppi
Murray screams out "do something" as Seppi gets to advantage on his own serve with an easy put-away. Murray does indeed do something, a smash getting him back to deuce, but Seppi clings on.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 1-1 Seppi
Seppi suddenly steps on the power and establishes a 40-0 lead on Murray's serve. The British teenager roars himself on after each break point saved - and the recovery is a massive boost for the Brit.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 0-1 Seppi
Murray looks poised to take control when he moves to 30-0 on Seppi's serve with some fierce returning. But the Italian is proving a determined opponent and he sees off the danger.

---

Second set:

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 Seppi
Seppi has a glimmer of hope at 30-30 but a daring backhand goes wide, giving Murray set point. The teenager plays too cautiously though, allowing Seppi to step in and blast a forehand into the corner. Murray hangs on though and clenches his fist as he looks at his support camp.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 5-4 Seppi
Seppi unleashes a stunning backhand down the line to hold after being pegged back from deuce. He must now break back though or we're into a deciding third set.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 5-3 Seppi
Murray is really fired up now - and the crowd are responding. The 19-year-old backs up the break with a love service game.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 4-3 Seppi
The variety Murray can produce on his groundstrokes, particularly his backhand, is a joy to watch. He has a break now - but if the last set is anything to go by, that doesn't mean much.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 3-3 Seppi
Seppi puts a woeful forehand into the net to let Murray off the hook at 30-30 and the Scot powers down an unreturnable first serve to draw level once more.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 2-3 Seppi
Murray swipes his racquet through the grass in frustration as he slumps 0-40 down but he uses his annoyance to good effect with a winning return on the next point. Seppi easily survives though.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 2-2 Seppi
Murray seems to be getting to grips with the conditions on serve. He loses only one point on serve this time.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 1-2 Seppi
Seppi unleashes an ace of his own to move ahead in this set. Murray again looks upset with himself.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 1-1 Seppi
A second ace of the match gives Murray a 40-0 lead and a third gives him a love game - in double-quick time.

Murray 6-7 (4-7) 0-1 Seppi
Murray raises in arms in mock triumph as he whips away a rare return winner. It earns him deuce but that's as good as it gets. The Briton is beginning to look frustrated.

---

First set:

Murray 6-7 (4-7) Seppi
Murray starts badly with a double fault and Seppi should move into a 2-0 lead but a laughable volley allows the Briton back in. The tiebreak is typical of the set. Murray has a 4-2 lead - but Seppi comes back to lead 6-4 and wraps up the set when Murray nets a backhand.

Murray 6-6 Seppi
It all goes wrong for Murray in this game and Seppi holds to love to take the set into a tiebreak.

Murray 6-5 Seppi
Suddenly it doesn't seem so hard at all. Murray rediscovers his first serve at a very opportune moment and he is ahead for the first time.

Murray 5-5 Seppi
It's a proving a difficult day to hold serve as this time Seppi crumbles. It's a well-earned reprieve for the Briton though

Murray 4-5 Seppi
Seppi had only won one match on grass before this year, but he looks like a natural. Seppi quickly races into a 40-0 lead and Murray goes wide on the backhand. The Brit must break again if he is to stay in this set.

Murray 4-4 Seppi
Seppi is bringing out the best in Murray now. The Scot produces a fabulous diving volley to get to 30-15 and he goes on to earn two break points. Seppi obliges by putting a backhand into the net.

Murray 3-4 Seppi
Murray stays in touch, but he needs to find some inspiration from somewhere if he is to break again.

Murray 2-4 Seppi
It's a baseline war of attrition...on grass. Seppi is getting the better of it at the moment - and there's very little for the crowd to cheer.

Murray 2-3 Seppi
Murray finds himself in trouble again on serve. Seppi punches a cross-court passing shot past a stranded Murray to seize back the advantage.

Murray 2-2 Seppi
An epic baseline rally ends with Seppi surprisingly netting a backhand. It leaves Murray with two break-back points and a deep return of serve is enough for the Scot to level.

Murray 1-2 Seppi
Murray tops yet another forehand but steadies himself and a bullet backhand down the line gets him on the scoreboard.

Murray 0-2 Seppi
Seppi seems to be enjoying the windy conditions more than Murray and it's an easy hold for the Italian.

Murray 0-1 Seppi
The weather is unseasonably cold in Nottingham and both players look reluctant to take their tracksuit tops off as the match gets under way. Three awful forehands from Murray see him go down an early break.