• Plays of the Day

Murray a pass master

ESPN staff
September 1, 2012
Roger Federer produced a sweet moment in his win over Fernando Verdasco © PA Photos
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Loving the lob
Agnieszka Radwanska was under pressure when serving for the match in the second set. She dropped the first point and was on the back foot with Jelena Jankovic dictating play, but the No. 2 seed came up with a brilliant lob that landed flush on the baseline and a couple of minutes later she was celebrating her place in the fourth round.

Loving the lob 2
Anything Radwanska can do, Andy Murray can do better. Much better. Feliciano Lopez came to the net in behind a wicked low slice which had Murray scampering back. Power was not an option, so he flicked a stunning topspin lob that even before it landed in it drew applause from Lopez.

Head like a Sheriff's badge
Your pub team's centre forward is often the butt of jokes when he makes a complete mess of a big chance in front of goal. He's often stood accused of taking his eye off the ball, a little like the linesman during Serena Williams' clash with Ekaterina Makarova. Serena sent a bullet down the T for an ace and seeing that it was coming right at him, said linesman dipped his head and hoped for the best. It hit him flush on the lead, but like a poor centre forward it flew off at a surprisingly odd angle.

Federer's swat volley
At 3-1 in the third set, Roger Federer was in cruise control against Fernando Verdasco. It was a position that enabled him to turn on the style and he did so with a fantastic, creative volley. He drew Verdasco in with a short ball and seemingly knowing where the return was going, he nonchalantly coasted across the court and swatted the ball away. Stunning

Pass master
There were a string of highlights in Murray's epic win over Lopez. Murray saving break point with his back to the wall in the fourth was one, but the highlight was surely Murray's passing shot in the fourth set tiebreak. At 5-4 in the tiebreak, Murray came up with a quite amazing backhand pass. It would not have been easy at the peak of his powers, but Murray was fatigued when Lopez sent down a big serve. Murray got that back, but Lopez sent a crisp volley that trapped Murray for room. He somehow found the freedom to swing his arms and the ball flashed past Lopez. A point later it was all over.

Ivanovic improvement
Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic has not reached the quarter-final stage of a grand slam since the 2008 French Open. Incredible, but true. Ivanovic will have the chance to do just that when she takes on Tsvetana Pironkova in the fourth round. However, Ivanovic certainly made it difficult for herself as she allowed Sloane Stephens into their match on Saturday evening with 56 unforced errors.

Super trooper Sloane
Sloane Stephens showed why she is the youngest member of the top 50 in the WTA world rankings. Home favourite Stephens stretched Ana Ivanovic in three sets and revealed later that she had woken up on Saturday with strange swelling in her abdomin. She dished up 10 double faults for the match, but given she could not use her normal delivery style we still salute her never-say-die attitude.

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