Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 08 May 2007 /

Andy Murray blamed a lack of match practice for his disappointing 6-1 1-6 6-3 defeat in the Rome Masters.

The world number 10 got off to the worst possible start on the clay as he dropped his serve three times to allow Gilles Simon to storm into a first-set lead in just 24 minutes.

The Brit bounced back to level the match but a three-hour rain break stopped his momentum.

World number 58, Simon, now a 4.9 outsider in the match odds market to beat rising star Guillermo Canas (1.24) in the second round, went 4-0 up when the players returned and, despite Murray clawing a break back, was able to seal the victory.
"I didn't feel great physically on the long rallies," said Murray, who was making his return after a back injury. "I was a bit rusty.
"It's always difficult when you come back after pretty much six weeks out of the Tour.

"It takes a little while to find your timing and get used to the kind of intensity that you play at week in, week out."
Clay-court king, Rafael Nadal, seeking a hat-trick of titles in Rome, is the overwhelming 1.58 favourite to make it three successes on the spin in the Eternal City.

Swiss star, Roger Federer, beaten in last year's final by Spain's Nadal, is next up in the outright winner's market at 4.3.
The two could well meet again in a repeat of this year's Monte Carlo Masters final, also on clay, with Federer losing 6-4 6-4 to Nadal.

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