Jamie and Bruno race into quarters despite heat
Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares steamrollered their way into the quarter-finals of the men’s doubles at the US Open yesterday, taking the fastest route possible past Robin Haase and Matwe Middekoop on a suffocatingly hot Grandstand Court.
Staying out of the sun and the humidity was all important and from the very first ball, Murray and Soares were in no mood to hang about. With the temperature around 34 degrees and the air so thick, it felt like being wrapped in a wet blanket, the champions of 2016 were not to be stopped.
It took them 98 minutes to win 7-6, 6-4 and, save for Murray dropping serve once in the first set and Soares facing break points in his next service game, they were not troubled. Once they had the first set wrapped up, they were always in control – their Dutch opponents never got another look at break point.
“We played really well in the tiebreak and then the second set, we were on top the whole way through it,” Murray said. “We did a good job because it wasn’t easy out there.
“I like the conditions where the ball is bouncing up a bit more. I’ve been in a good mindset with my returning which has helped us. Getting a lot of balls in play. We’ve both been serving smart and winning a lot of points on our second serves which is key in doubles.”
Murray has struggled with knee problems for most of the year but even though he is playing in both the men’s and the mixed doubles, working a double shift on some days, and has his right knee strapped for every match, he is getting better the longer the summer goes on.
“The last couple of months has been a lot better so I’m happy with that,” he said. “Just obviously I keep taping it for protection and support and then obviously keep doing my rehab. But it’s been fine. Since I finished on the clay, it’s been a lot better so I’m happy with that but I just need to know that I need to stay on top of it.”
Murray and Soares now play Radu Albot of Moldova and Malek Jaziri of Tunisia for a place in the semi-finals.