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Gulbis test awaits Murray

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 31/08/2009
Tennis betting

Andy Murray's bid for US Open glory and a first Grand Slam title starts off with a first round clash with Latvian Ernests Gulbis at Flushing Meadows.

Sportsbook favourite Murray has beaten the unpredictable Gulbis before and should do so again, while his second round opponent will be the winner of the clash of Paul Capdeville of Chile and Victor Crivoi of Romania.

Will Murray overcome Gulbis again? - Latest Tennis Betting

At Wimbledon Murray thrashed Gulbis in straight sets in the second round, going on to reach the semi-finals at SW19.

In the third round the seedings predict that Murray will face giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic, whose massive serve is sure to pose a major threat to further progress.

Another Croat is scheduled to lie in wait in round four, with the ever-improving Marin Cilic sure to represent a tough test, although his best surface is clay and that could prove decisive.

Murray reached the final in New York 12 months ago and if he is able to repeat that sort of showing, the a quarter-final with sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro is on the cards.

The rangy Argentinian is one of the fastest improving players on the circuit and is close to making a major breakthrough himself, having impressed on the hard courts in north America already this summer.

However, Murray will be able to take heart from a 4-1 career record against the South American, with one of those victories coming in the last eight at Flushing Meadows last year.

The Scot ran out a 7-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5 on that occasion and Del Potro's only victory in their five meetings came on clay in the Madrid Masters earlier this year.

Should Murray make it all the way to the last four, he may face the fit-again Rafael Nadal, in what would also be a repeat of the clash between the two players 12 months previously.

Nadal has only recently come back from a lengthy injury lay-off and despite holding a 7-2 career advantage over Murray, he will remember the British number one's inspired display a year ago.

Murray won the first two sets 6-2, 7-6, before the Spaniard hit back to take the third set 6-4. However, Murray stayed tough to see out the match 6-4 in the fourth set.

Should Murray have managed to fend off a number of tough challenges to reach a second successive final, the looming figure of Roger Federer is likely to be waiting, just as he did last year.

The Swiss maestro appears to be on the easier side of the draw, although he may well have to face home favourite Andy Roddick in the last four.

The American has been in impressive form this season and came within an ace of denying Federer in a tense five-set marathon Wimbledon final a few months ago.

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