What a peculiar match, with the hobbled facing the hobbled. Wawrinka earned a break in the first set to get a lead, but Murray reclaimed the break and then won in the tiebreak. In the second set, Murray twice got up a break but was broken back each time. Wawrinka would take the second set in a tiebreak.
By this point, both Murray and Wawrinka seemed to be hurt. Murray’s left leg, and both legs of Wawrinka. Wawrinka twice left the court to get some treatment. Murray’s first serve percentage dropped from a healthy 60% in the first two sets, to a paltry 30% in the third and fourth set. Murray seemed to lack the consistency needed to beat Wawrinka while Wawrinka took big swipes and was mostly successfully.
Murray seemed unhappy, kept glaring at his box, and was called for numerous foot faults. Murray again got down a break early in the fourth set, then was down 0-40 to go down a second break, but he fought out of that game to hold. However, Wawrinka was able to hold serve and win the match. Ultimately, the key was Murray’s inability to secure the break in the second set and take a two set to none lead. Last year, Murray lost to Cilic in the fourth round. This year, he loses in the third round. It may be that his indifferent performance in Cincinnati (losing to Fish again) was an indication of something wrong, back then, which would be frustrating for a player that places the US Open high on his list of desirable Slams to win.
Final score: 6-7 (7), 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-3.
Michael Llodra looked unable to hit volleys and move to run down overheads. He was scooping his volleys with no pace. It was amazing that he was able to hold serve a few times playing this way. After losing the third set and dropping his serve in the fourth set, Llodra called it quits, and Tommy Robredo moves to the fourth round.
Stan Wawrinka will now play Sam Querrey in the next round. John Isner faces Mikhail Youzhny in the evening match. The winner will take on Tommy Robredo.
