Murray out as he blows a Gasquet

Published on Saturday 3 November 2007 13:42

ANDY MURRAY has spoken of his pride at coming so close to reaching the Masters Cup in Shanghai despite falling short with defeat by Richard Gasquet in their Paris quarter-final last night.

The tennis star from Dunblane had seemed on course for the last four after recovering from the loss of the first set to take the second to love with some style in Bercy.

But a leg-weary Gasquet recovered his composure and snatched a crucial break in the fifth game of the decider to progress 6-3, 0-6, 6-4.

Murray said: "It was a one-set match to get to the year-end championships.

"We both wanted to win. I was disappointed when I lost points and fired up when I won them. What I've done this year has been unbelievable, considering my wrist injury. To have a match to get to the championships after what I've been through is amazing. It came down to three bad games for me. When you win more games and more points and still lose the match, it's tough."

Gasquet will now go on to play David Nalbandian, conqueror of Roger Federer, with his hopes of making the prestigious eight-man event in China still alive.

There was little between the players in a serve-dominated first set with Murray paying the price for one sloppy game in the eighth.

After seven games in which neither player earned a break point, Gasquet grabbed the initiative by playing patiently and forcing 15th seed Murray into errors. Gasquet was little troubled as he closed out the set, the first Murray had dropped in the tournament, but the Scot powered back in style to take the second.

He dramatically moved up a gear and hit more convincingly, particularly with his backhand, to sweep through the set to love.

Gasquet's confidence appeared to drain from him and his movement slowed as Murray cranked up the pressure and the Scot levelled the match by seizing on his third set point off the Frenchman's serve.

The third set proved much more competitive with Gasquet rallying to force two break points on the opening Murray serve.

He failed to convert either but dug deeper to break through in the fifth game and force himself ahead. Murray battled hard but Gasquet just did enough to hold on to win on his second match point.