Murray out in windy Rome

Andy Murray and Ross Hutchins lost their opening doubles match at the ATP Italian international in Rome on Monday.

The British pair bowed out of the event, losing to world number 47 pair Julien Benneteau and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga who claimed a 6-4 6-4 victory.

"The conditions were terrible," admitted Murray. "There was dust everywhere, wind blowing leaves from the trees on to the court."

He added: "We had to stop in between points because dust was getting in our eyes.

"I've played in windy conditions before but unlike Barcelona, where it also can get windy, this was something else."

Murray will be back in action in the singles draw when he takes to the court against Juan Monaco on Tuesday. The Argentinian player, who is ranked 58, earlier beat Nicolas Kiefer 6-3 6-4.

Murray, who has been training in Rome since Friday, is wary of clay-court specialist Monaco but is confident about his chances of going far in this tournament.

"Monaco had an injury last year but before that he was ranked in the top 20," he said. "He does well on clay and looks comfortable on this surface.

"He has been playing well in this surface in tournaments in South America, while he reached the fourth round of the 2007 French and US Open.

"But I am feeling more comfortable on clay this year than with respect to last year."

PA Sport

Awal Mulus Nadal

Kamis, 23/04/2009 05:34 WIB
Barcelona Open
Awal Mulus Nadal
Rossi Finza Noor - detiksport


Reuters
Barcelona - Rafael Nadal mengawali langkahnya dengan mulus di turnamen Barcelona Open. Berhadapan dengan Federico Gil, Nadal menang dengan skor 6-2 6-2.

Di lapangan tanah liat Real de Club Tenis, Barcelona, Kamis (23/4/2009), Nadal sukses mematahkan servis Gil pada game ketiga. Selanjutnya petenis nomor satu dunia itu pun tak terbendung lagi.

Nadal kemudian menggagalkan tiga servis Gil lainnya sebelum menutup laga ini dengan kemenangan 6-2 di set kedua. Ia pun berhak untuk melaju ke babak 16 besar.

"Ini adalah kemenangan tanpa banyak kesulitan. Saya merasa sangat nyaman tanpa melakukan hal apa pun yang spektakuler," ujar Nadal seperti dilansir Reuters.

Nadal yang sebelum ini juga menjadi juara di turnamen tanah liat lainnya, Monte Carlo Masters, ditempatkan sebagai unggulan teratas dalam turnamen ini. Ia juga digadang-gadang untuk menjadi juara pada Rolland Garros yang juga merupakan turnamen dengan clay court.

Dalam pertandingan lainnya, Fernando Verdasco mengalahkan Nicolas Lapenti dengan skor 7-5 6-3. Di babak selanjutnya ia akan berhadapan dengan petenis asal Republik Ceko, Thomas Berdych.

Sedangkan unggulan ketiga, Nikolay Davydenko, mengalahkan petenis asal Prancis, Arnaud Clement, dengan skor 7-6 6-2. Di babak selanjutnya, Davydenko akan berhadapan dengan unggulan kelima, Fernando Gonzalez.

( roz / arp )