Battling Andy Murray shows his old fighting spirit to beat Robin Haase in Rotterdam

Andy Murray fought back from a set down to beat Robin Haase in the first round of the ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.
Former world number one Murray, 123rd in the ATP rankings, showed all his trademark fighting spirit to clinch a 2-6 7-6 (2) 6-3 win in just over two-and-a-half hours.
Murray, who pulled out of last month’s Australian Open after testing positive for coronavirus, was back on court after losing last week in his first ATP Tour match for four months.
Muzza mentality 💪@andy_murray gets his first win of 2021, defeating Haase from 3-0 down in the decider in the @abnamrowtt first round! pic.twitter.com/thkKQZplMd
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 1, 2021
The 33-year-old lost in straight sets to Belarus’ Egor Gerasimov at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
Murray lost the first set in Rotterdam in 34 minutes after being broken twice, but saved two break points in the seventh game of the second and held his nerve in the tie-break to level the match.
The Scot fell 3-0 behind after losing his opening service game in the decider, but came storming back against world number 193 Haase and reeled off the last six games to seal a memorable victory.
Murray held serve at the start of the opening set and then failed to convert two break points before he was broken in his next two service games to fall 5-1 behind.
He held in the seventh game, but Haase served out to take the first set in just over half an hour.
Digging DEEP@andy_murray completes the comeback to beat Robin Haase 2-6, 7-6 (2), 6-3#BackTheBrits 🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/is8v1C54Cc
— LTA (@the_LTA) March 1, 2021
Neither player faced a break point in the first six games of the second set before Murray survived two in the seventh game to edge 4-3 ahead.
The Briton held twice more, but Haase was proving solid on his own serve and forced a tie-break.
Murray then seized the initiative, winning two decisive points against Haase’s serve to open up a 6-2 lead and he clinched the second set after an hour and 10 minutes on his first set point to level the match.
Haase responded by opening up a 3-0 lead in the decider but Murray stormed back, breaking in the fifth and holding twice to level the match again before breaking the Dutchman’s resistance by reeling off the next three for victory.
Follow us on Twitter @T365Official and like our Facebook page.
Latest
-
French Open
Irina-Camelia Begu cops biggest fine so far at 2022 French Open after ‘unacceptable’ incident
Irina-Camelia Begu lucky not to be disqualified, but not so lucky with the fine.
-
French Open
Rafael Nadal produces his ‘best match’ at 2022 French Open, up next Felix Auger-Aliassime and Uncle Toni
Rafael Nadal edges closer to potential Novak Djokovic showdown.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic striving for perfection and more aggression after easing into Roland Garros fourth round
Novak Djokovic marches on at Roland Garros.
-
French Open
Belinda Bencic fumes at umpire over time violation during defeat to Leylah Fernandez at Roland Garros
It’s Leylah Fernandez v Amanda Anisimova up next at Roland Garros.
-
French Open
Exclusive – Why Carlos Alcaraz could be a hybrid of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic
Annabel Croft says Carlos Alcaraz has taken the best elements of Nadal, Djokovic and Federer to build his game.
-
French Open
Novak Djokovic ‘is back’ says John McEnroe as he makes world No 1 ‘very slight’ favourite for Roland Garros title
John McEnroe tipping Novak Djokovic to win the 2022 French Open.
-
Wimbledon
Daniil Medvedev insists ‘if I can play Wimbledon I will be happy to be there, even without points’
Daniil Medvedev would jump at the chance to play at Wimbledon.
-
Tennis News
Nick Kyrgios has ‘bigger fish to fry’ after Bernard Tomic challenges him ‘sort this out in the boxing ring’
Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic won’t be stepping into a boxing ring any time soon.
-
French Open
Irina-Camelia Begu escapes disqualification after ’embarrassing moment’ left young fan in tears
“I just want to apologise,” says Irina-Camelia Begu.
-
Wimbledon
Wimbledon to finally ditch the ‘Miss’ and ‘Mrs’ prefixes on its famous honours boards as it modernises
Welcome to 2022 Wimbledon.