Rennes Open: Russia's Roman Safiullin stuns Andy Murray
16 Sep 2021: Rennes Open: Russia's Roman Safiullin stuns Andy Murray
Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has been knocked out of the Rennes Open.World number 158, Roman Safiullin, stunned Murray 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in the last 16 clash on Wednesday.Murray had earlier impressed in the first round, beating Germany's Yannick Maden.The Scott still has a wildcard for the Metz Open next week.Here are further details.
Match: How did the match pan out?
Murray lost two of his opening three service games in the first set. Although he tried to make a comeback, Safiullin was all over him. The Scott then raised his game and won the second set 6-4. Murray was down and out in the third set. He could win only one game even though he saved quite a few match points.
Fact: A look at the stats
Despite losing, Murray struck a total of eight aces in the match. His opponent Safiullin recorded 14 aces. He won a total of 89 points. The Russian claimed 5 out of 10 break points. Both recorded four double-faults each.
Murray: Murray has suffered eight defeats this season
Murray is undergoing a lean patch in the ongoing season. At the start of the year, he finished as the runner-up at the Biella Challenger Indoor 1 after losing to Illya Marchenko. Murray then suffered a third-round defeat to Denis Shapovalov at Wimbledon. He was knocked out of the 2021 US Open (first round) by Stefanos Tsitsipas. Murray is 7-8 in the season.
Roman Safiullin: Safiullin did well at Australian Open and Roland Garros
Safiullin has a win-loss record of 4-3 in the ongoing season. Earlier this year, he reached the second round at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. He continued to compete in the Challenger Tour, having reached the quarter-finals at Nur Sultan 3. Safiullin will next face Richard Gasquet in the quarter-finals of the Rennes Open. The latter defeated Clement Chidekh in the last 16.
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Also see: Decoding the incredible run of Novak Djokovic in 2021
US Open 2021: Stefanos Tsitsipas beats Murray in five-set battle
Decoding the career stats of Andy Murray
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