- 4 weeks ago
On the 9 March 2023 at Indian Wells, having just beaten Danka Kovinic in the first round, Emma joined Russell Fuller in the Radio 5 Sports Extra booth to chat and commentate on Andy Murray’s first round match against Tomas Etcheverry.
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:01Right, as promised, I'm going to remove you from the airwaves just briefly, I'm afraid, Mr. Mark Woodford, and I'm
00:07going to hand the microphone instead to Emma Raducanu, who's also very welcome to take a seat if you wish,
00:15and join us here in the commentary box on Sports Extra as we watch Andy Murray and Thomas Echeverry still
00:21going at it at four games all in this first set.
00:24Now a game point for Echeverry, having saved three further break points, and he's got out of jail again, and
00:31Andy Murray has taken one of the ten break points he's had in this set, and that's why we're still
00:35on serve, a break apiece with Echeverry leading Andy Murray by five games to four.
00:40Well, well played Emma, 6-2, 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes against Danka Kovanec of Montenegro in
00:47your first match, and given that you said yesterday you weren't 100% sure you were going to play today,
00:51how satisfying was that for you?
00:54Yeah, so satisfying, and especially having played her before, I knew what a tough match it would be, and yeah,
01:00to get through and to beat her after losing to her, it always feels good, so I'm very proud.
01:06Did you make a final decision this morning to play?
01:09Yeah, like 20 minutes before.
01:11Really, and that was again wrist-related?
01:15I think it was a combination, I didn't feel too good this morning, but yeah, I'm just so happy with
01:21the way I fought and dealt with the circumstances.
01:24I noticed that you were coughing a little bit, you had tonsillitis a couple of weeks ago, Mark Woodford standing
01:30behind you who lives very near here is saying actually that if you've not been well, the conditions here with
01:36the desert air can actually make it quite physically challenging, did you find that?
01:41I just woke up feeling not great, to be honest, I think that I felt quite ill, so I'm just
01:50happy to have played the match and then to win it despite how I felt today, to be honest, so
01:57yeah.
01:58So, illness rather than injury, perhaps, this time.
02:04Yeah, you didn't look your normal smiley self on the call, I have to say.
02:08Thanks.
02:10But you got through it, didn't you?
02:11Look, we all have days where we perhaps get out of bed and we don't feel so great, but you've
02:15got to go out there, you've got to go about your business, and you did that, and now, is it
02:20too early to tell how you're going to feel in the second round for the challenge of Magdalenette?
02:25Yeah, I think I get a day off tomorrow, but it was funny, like, today before the match, I did
02:30not warm up, like, I was two minutes before I was called, I was, like, sleeping in the treatment room,
02:34so, yeah, I'm just proud to have gone out there and then, and then win, and, yeah, Magda's obviously a
02:40tough opponent, but we'll see, we'll see how I played her before and looking forward to it.
02:45And how did the risks feel today, Emma? I think mentally it's hard, isn't it, when you've got a bit
02:50of a weakness there and you had a problem at the end of last year to go out there and
02:53trust them properly?
02:55Yeah, I mean, they were manageable, not 100%, but I think we're trying to find some good strategies to manage
03:02the pain, and, yeah, I think it worked today.
03:07And what do you think of this particular vantage point? And Andy Murray, in the start of the season he's
03:13made, we're watching him 5-4 down in the first set, serving to stay in the first set now at
03:17Love 15.
03:17Yeah, unbelievable, he's had such a good start to the season, and seeing him fight, seeing him scrap, like, honestly,
03:24he gave me a lot of inspiration today when I wasn't feeling good, yeah, I saw him out there, saw
03:29him battling, I can't imagine he's completely pain-free, so, yeah, watching him this year has definitely given me a
03:36lot of inspiration, and, yeah, Andy loves a fight, so, yeah, I'm looking forward to watching this match.
03:44A drop shot winner there from Andy Murray, it could be a long one, potentially, thanks for coming a little
03:50bit extra journey to join us here in the commentary box, I'm sorry that you're not feeling too great, but
03:56I'm hoping, I'm not quite sure what to expect in the next round, then, you're not quite sure what to
04:01expect either, by the sounds of things?
04:03We're just taking it day by day, to be honest, and, of course, because this view to watch Andy is
04:08pretty good, so, yeah.
04:10Well, you're very welcome to stay, I mean, you can make, well, Woodford redundant, if you like.
04:15I'll start commentating.
04:18Do you want to do a point?
04:19Alright.
04:20We'll try one point, here you go.
04:21Right, I'm going to hand the microphone over to you, it's 4-5 Andy Murray, he leads 30-15, and
04:28here on 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds is Emma Raducanu.
04:34So, you remember, it's radio, so you've got to keep talking.
04:37Okay.
04:42It's a good, it's a good first serve, very solid middle of the box, I don't think he went for
04:47anything too, too tight to the lines, and, yeah, he's given himself two game points here to equal it.
04:54You see, you can do the summarise a bit brilliantly, do you think maybe one day you'd like to try
04:58the ball-by-ball commentary as well?
05:00I didn't know you were allowed to talk in between the points.
05:03It's the difference between radio and television, you see, is that here we've got the soundproof glass in front of
05:09us, and we have to keep commentating if you think about it, otherwise people haven't got a clue what's going
05:14on.
05:14But if you were doing television, that's absolutely the case, they'd encourage you not to speak at all during the
05:20points.
05:20Right, good point.
05:22Sure.
05:22One more attempt?
05:23One more, one more, yeah.
05:24It's five games all.
05:26Andy Murray held on there.
05:29This is the hard bit sometimes, the time it takes players between points and between games.
05:35Yeah, you hear the commentators fill the time with a lot of them.
05:38We were talking about Mark Whitford's Roland Garros key ring earlier that's in front of you on the table.
05:44You can see Andy guessed that he was going wide there, but he actually went tee, so I think he
05:49got a little bit lucky that he didn't make it over.
05:54Andy's got the best second serve return, I think, of the game up there with Novak, so whenever I see
06:01the opponent hitting a second serve, I'm, yeah, very confident in Andy.
06:06He takes it so early and got such an explosive split step.
06:11Something that was perhaps a little bit of a slightly weaker part of his game in the early years of
06:15his career, but as you say, absolutely not now.
06:19And he has Love 15.
06:21I think all of the opponents that he plays dreads serving to him because they know just how hard they're
06:27going to have to work for every service game.
06:29Forehand return by Andy Murray.
06:31The backhand from Murray onto the forehand of Echeverry.
06:33It's hit hard down the line.
06:35Murray's on the run with the forehand.
06:36Echeverry's forehand.
06:37Murray slices the backhand.
06:38Echeverry into the net and he punches the volley away.
06:41And he's moved to 15 all at five games all in the first set with Pablo Carreno-Busta awaiting the
06:48winner in the second round.
06:49That was, that was very good.
06:51Was that good?
06:52Excellent.
06:53You've done this before.
06:54I've done it once or twice before.
06:55But I'm glad you now realise it's not as easy as it looks.
06:58It's not as easy, especially when you shot by shot.
07:01See, I think it's a lot more fun in many ways than the television commentary because you do have the
07:05adrenaline of describing, if not every single shot, maybe every other shot.
07:09And you get into 20, 30 shot rallies and it's a challenge, but it's a big buzz.
07:14That's a forehand from Echeverry.
07:16The forehand drop shot from Echeverry.
07:17Murray is not going to run that one down.
07:20He started off in hot pursuit, realised he was beaten in Echeverry to 30.15.
07:33And we wait to see how long this match will continue.
07:35It could be a long, long one as you were suggesting there, Emma.
07:38Mm-hmm.
07:42The court completely in shade now.
07:46There's a bit that is in the sun, which the shadow is always very difficult to play.
07:51And I can speak from experience when the ball moves in and out of the shadow.
07:55Forehand cross court from Murray.
07:56The love from Echeverry.
07:57It's very much a defensive one.
07:59But he's landed that very deep in the court.
08:00Murray lets it bounce.
08:01Hits the forehand to the backhand of Echeverry.
08:04Backhand from Murray is onto the sideline.
08:07Now a backhand cross court from Murray.
08:08Echeverry down the line with a really big backhand.
08:11Murray just long on the defence with a forehand.
08:14And it's still very, very tight this match.
08:17Five games all.
08:18Echeverry threatening to take us into a 6-5 advantage for the Argentine.
08:24That's one of Andy's best shots.
08:26The forehand scrap on the run.
08:27I think that as a player he's probably one of the best at scrapping
08:30and putting the ball in very awkward positions for the opponent.
08:34And I think for the spectator sometimes it can look like it's a nothing ball.
08:38But when they keep coming back you definitely feel the pressure.
08:43He doesn't win matches quickly does he Andy Murray in 2023.
08:4740-15.
08:48Forehand return from Murray.
08:50Echeverry strokes the forehand down the line.
08:52And Murray is netted.
08:53And Echeverry leads by six games to five in the first set.
08:57It's one break of serve apiece.
08:59And Murray is going to have to hold serve to take us into a tie break at the end of
09:03the first set.
09:04So I have full faith in Andy that he's going to take it to a breaker.
09:08And I think that's exactly what he wants his opponent to be honest.
09:14He'll fancy his extra experience will get him across the line.
09:17But it's hard work.
09:19So there you go.
09:20To the change of ends we have a chance to talk about anything.
09:22So is there anything you particularly want to get off your chest right now?
09:25You've got another 60 seconds or so.
09:28I just love watching Andy and the view you've got here is not too bad.
09:32So I'm going to stick around for the next 50 seconds and watch what's going on.
09:39It's such a great venue to play at.
09:42I think all of the players vote it as one of their favorite tournaments.
09:45And it definitely is mine.
09:47Especially now it was pretty special to see the snow on the mountains actually.
09:50That's pretty rare.
09:51And it's actually pretty tricky with the conditions sometimes.
09:56It gets very dry and other people get allergies around here and dry throats.
10:03So yeah I think I maybe today have a bit of that as well.
10:06But yeah it's harder than it looks.
10:10Yeah it's there's been some fairly random weather hasn't there in the United States.
10:14When you were in Texas did they have colder weather or was it extreme heat there?
10:18Because it's been fluctuating fairly wildly.
10:21There was a storm there actually.
10:22So it was raining and then extremely hot.
10:25And yeah it was very up and down and turbulent with the weather.
10:30So it's tough.
10:31Like you don't know how to dress.
10:32If it's cold and you're wearing sleeveless you know you can let your muscles get cold.
10:37And then it's easier for things to hurt.
10:40Joints hurt more.
10:41And yeah you never really know how to dress or how to warm up.
10:47But this particular venue one of your favorite.
10:50The players always seem to be more relaxed here.
10:52I suppose that's because you've all got a little bit more in the tank at the start of the year.
10:55Yeah I think this one is the fifth slam.
10:57It's the second biggest court after Ash.
11:00So scale wise it is massive.
11:03But me personally I love the big courts and big stadiums and that's something Andy also is for sure very
11:09familiar with.
11:10And this is the second biggest court in tennis with its 16,100 capacity.
11:15Andy Murray is serving to stay in the first set here at 5-6 against Thomas Echeverry of Argentina.
11:21And he's netting and you can tell that he's not very impressed with himself.
11:25His shoulders slump.
11:26He's going to try and put that behind him because he's got to be careful here.
11:30This Argentine has shown that he can play a bit and he's very comfortable coming forward as well.
11:37Yeah I feel like he didn't quite get around the ball on that one with his backhand.
11:42Legs wise I think he could have created a bit more space.
11:44But yeah let's see Love 15.
11:49Love 15.
11:50The first serve from Murray is a good one.
11:52A high return from Echeverry.
11:53Lands on the baseline though so Murray has plenty of work to do here.
11:56Forehand from Murray.
11:57Echeverry on the move with a forehand.
11:59Murray down the line with a forehand.
12:01Moving his opponent around well but missing the volley.
12:04We did not expect to see that.
12:06Murray has punched the forehand volley into the net.
12:08He's Love 30 down.
12:09He's two points away from dropping the first set.
12:12Yeah that's not something you see very often from Andy to have a volley so close to the net.
12:17But yeah he's under a bit of pressure here.
12:19But yeah I still have faith in him.
12:23He's going to be very frustrated with only taking one break point from the 10 he's had in the set.
12:29Often he comes through in a situation like this.
12:31But even though you've done it many many times before it's clearly a pressurised situation.
12:36Yeah it's important to just not let it affect you and then to not have that in the back of
12:41your mind when you're facing another break point or serving to stay in.
12:45Love 30 down.
12:45Murray does find a good serve.
12:47It's another very high deep return though by Echeverry.
12:49He's defending superbly.
12:50Another volley for Murray.
12:51And he's gone cross court with this one.
12:53And Echeverry is netted.
12:54But only just that one hit the tape and very nearly danced over.
12:59It would have given him three set points.
13:01But instead Andy Murray's back in the game at 15.30.
13:04Yeah I think that also having the same volley if not a little bit trickier from Andy.
13:08It was good to see him.
13:10I think he completely psychologically recovered from that and didn't let the previous one affect him.
13:17One hour and 11 minutes played.
13:20Emma Raducanu has joined us on commentary.
13:22It's a nice surprise.
13:24Mark Woodford thought he was just temporarily standing aside and he may never get his job back.
13:28As Murray serves down the middle it's a service winner.
13:31He celebrates.
13:32In fact it's called an ace here.
13:34And it's 30 all.
13:36Yeah that was very important to get a free point there and get it back to 30 all.
13:41And yeah I'm intrigued to see where he goes here.
13:45Are you aware of the commentary boxes when you're out on the big show courts around the world?
13:50And where they are?
13:52Occasionally.
13:52Sometimes they're really annoyingly placed.
13:54So.
13:56But this one's not too bad.
13:57I didn't really notice it was up here.
14:00You'd struggle to spot us up here.
14:01But I suppose also when they're close to the court.
14:03And I know it's meant to be tinted glass or two way mirror type thing.
14:07But it's not always like that is it?
14:08And if you do see Chris Everett or Martina Navratilova or someone like that watching you.
14:12Then I imagine it can give you something to think about.
14:15As Murray nets a forehand and he's set points down.
14:23Yeah sometimes when you're playing and you see them stand up in between changeovers or
14:29talking and it's like not going well.
14:31You know exactly what they're saying and it's like you can predict what they're talking about.
14:37But yeah it's important to try and stay as focused as you can and not let it distract you.
14:44I think he's going to go...
14:47T.
14:48Could be wrong.
14:49T.
14:50So predicted by Emma Ranacanu.
14:52She was correct.
14:53It's 5-6.
14:54It's 30-40.
14:55So it's a set point now to Thomas Echeverry.
14:58Andy Murray's backhand down the centre.
15:00Echeverry with the forehand.
15:01Murray's backhand cross court.
15:02Backhand from Echeverry to the forehand cross court of Murray.
15:05Echeverry with the forehand.
15:06Murray's forehand down the line.
15:07Echeverry is defending brilliantly again as he has throughout this game.
15:11He has set point.
15:12Murray with the off forehand.
15:13He's hitting the ball increasingly hard.
15:14But more great defence from the Argentine.
15:16Into the net with the forehand Echeverry.
15:19Murray saves the set point after 73 minutes on court.
15:235-6.
15:24Deuce.
15:25And this first set continues.
15:28Yeah it was big for Andy to stay in the rally there.
15:31And I think he had him exactly where he wanted.
15:34Backhand cross.
15:35I think that's he's got one of the best backhand crosses in the game.
15:38So he's very comfortable to sit in that all day long.
15:42And yeah it was great to see him commit to those forehands that he got as well.
15:46What a scrap this first set has been.
15:51Echeverry certainly seems to be full of confidence.
15:54And full of the joys of spring having reached the final in Santiago on Sunday.
15:58But it was a very quick turnaround as we were saying.
16:00And that's a service winner from Murray.
16:02And he now has the game point to take us into a tie break.
16:06Yeah I think that serve is so effective here.
16:08The slice wide on the deuce.
16:10Especially when the opponent is standing so far back.
16:14You know the angles are really opened up.
16:17And yeah I think that we just saw a great example of that.
16:20Andy using it.
16:25He saved a set point Andy Murray.
16:27Can he take us into a tie break?
16:29And he's just missed his first serve.
16:38Second serve.
16:42It's a very carefully placed one by Murray.
16:45Doing very little on it but getting it in play.
16:48His backhand cross court.
16:49Echeverry reaching for the backhand.
16:50Murray with the volley.
16:52Great put away from him.
16:54He's had three of those in this game.
16:55And yeah.
16:57Again he didn't let the first one affect him.
16:59And it was some great depth as well on the first ball after the serve.
17:06So it's tie break time at the end of this first set.
17:10Six games all after 75 minutes.
17:12A break of serve apiece.
17:13Murray saved a set point.
17:15He's also had nine break point opportunities he's not been able to take.
17:19And we're going to see who wins this tie break.
17:21First to seven points of course.
17:23As you join us on the first day of our coverage from Indian Wells 2023.
17:28Are you staying in a house here or in a hotel?
17:31I'm staying in a house here.
17:33I caught Andy for this break.
17:35I'm making that call right here.
17:39Well you'd like to think his experience will come through.
17:41But Echeverry's played a really really good first set.
17:44And there's plenty of weight on that first serve too.
17:47And Murray can't make the return.
17:49So first point to the Argentine.
17:51It is the sort of venue actually isn't it.
17:53Where if you can get a house.
17:54Perhaps on a golf course.
17:56It's a really nice part of the world.
17:58To be able to do that.
17:59Yeah it's so nice to have space.
18:01And also sometimes to be staying away from the other players.
18:06I think that you see them every day on site.
18:08Non-stop.
18:09So to have your own space.
18:11It's really refreshing.
18:13Murray missing his first serve.
18:15And that's harder to do I suppose in some of the big cities isn't it.
18:18If you're playing at the US Open in New York.
18:20Or perhaps Roland Garros Paris.
18:22Is it harder to find a house there?
18:24Yeah big time.
18:25Yeah it's just limited for space.
18:27And there's a lot.
18:28He's missed that backhand wide.
18:31He has.
18:31It's pretty rare to see him pull that wide.
18:34And I think especially in like pressure situations.
18:38His backhand cross is such a banker for him I think.
18:43And yeah it's interesting to see him serve.
18:46But love to here.
18:48So he's got a lot to think about still Andy Murray.
18:52He doesn't really mind going set points down or match points down.
18:55As we've seen on more than one occasion so far this season.
18:57Saving eight match points en route to the final in Doha.
19:00Where he lost to Daniel Medvedev.
19:01And there were those extraordinary matches in Australia as well.
19:05First of all against Matteo Berrettini.
19:08And then against Tonati Kokkinakis that finished at five past four in the morning.
19:14I can't even imagine playing at that time.
19:18An amazing effort by both of them.
19:20And that's just wide on the backhand from Etcheverri.
19:23He had half a chance there.
19:24But he leads 2-1 with two serves to come.
19:27I guess were you.
19:29Had you played Coco Goff by then hadn't you.
19:31When Andy Murray played his second round match.
19:33No I hadn't.
19:33I was actually playing the night match on Leyva.
19:37The following.
19:38The same day as it turned out.
19:39Same day.
19:40So you weren't awake at five past four in the morning therefore.
19:43No.
19:44I didn't watch his match against Kokkinakis.
19:46But I watched as much as I could.
19:48And it was too late for me.
19:53That's the trouble.
19:54Dramatic for those of us that stayed up.
19:55Great for a UK audience given the time of day.
19:58But not much fun if you're actually in Australia.
20:01Impossible to really watch the end of that match if you've got work to do.
20:06And whether that's an office job or a meeting with Coco Goff on Rod Leyva Arena.
20:11Forehand down the line by Etcheverri.
20:13Backhand from Etcheverri.
20:14The volley Murray's running in.
20:15Smashes it straight back at his man.
20:17And Etcheverri has made the instinctive volley.
20:20And that is Murray.
20:21Not particularly aggressively.
20:22But just hitting the net with his racket in frustration.
20:25Because he still finds himself behind in this tie break.
20:28He's trailing by three points to one.
20:30I mean those reflexes in the net.
20:32Because Andy did not go soft for that passing shot.
20:36So yeah it was pretty good reflexes.
20:38Especially in this situation from Etcheverri.
20:44One hour and 18 minutes on the clock.
20:46This is just the first set of the week for Andy Murray.
20:49I know he'd love to try and win matches more quickly.
20:53And even though he's winning more sets than he's losing these days.
20:56And more matches than he's losing.
20:58He's still finding it hard to close them out quickly.
21:00Etcheverri's playing very well indeed.
21:02He has 3-1 in the tie break.
21:04Murray's hit the baseline.
21:05Backhand down the centre from Murray.
21:06A backhand from him cross court to the Etcheverri backhand.
21:09Murray's in control of this rally for now.
21:11But he's netted.
21:12He's put a forehand into the net.
21:13And there's some clear daylight now.
21:16Etcheverri has hung on to both of his serves.
21:17And he leads by 4 games to 1.
21:21Yeah it was interesting actually.
21:22I think Etcheverri from his ball toss.
21:25It was slightly more right.
21:27So I think Andy was anticipating a wider serve.
21:30But actually surprised him.
21:31And went down the tee flatter.
21:33But it wasn't so tight to the tee.
21:35And he's still got a good racket on it.
21:424-1.
21:45Etcheverri leads.
21:452 serves to come for Andy Murray.
21:47As well as Emma going through today.
21:49Jack Draper.
21:50Good friend of yours I know.
21:52Has gone through in the first round.
21:54Also a first match since the Australian Open.
21:56And also winning in straight sets.
21:576-1, 6-1.
21:58In just 56 minutes against the Swiss qualifier.
22:01Leandro Reedy.
22:03Yeah that was a massive effort from Jack.
22:05I think he was on and off the court quicker than.
22:08Quicker than pretty much everyone today.
22:10And it's great to see him playing on these big stages.
22:13I've known him for years.
22:15So yeah I'm very happy for him.
22:17Murray has just missed a forehand.
22:19From the baseline.
22:21He's just stroked that wide.
22:23And he's suddenly 5-1 down.
22:25And this is not the way that either of us expected this tie break to unfold.
22:29He's got a lot of work to do.
22:31As he turns and lets his frustration out.
22:36That's directed towards Mark Hilton his coach.
22:39And Shane Annan his physio.
22:41And you can tell us all about that.
22:43Therapeutic isn't it?
22:44You can just let out some steam.
22:46It may not be the fault of the coach at that particular moment in time.
22:50But that's partly why you invest in them isn't it?
22:53You have a chance to vent on the court in stressful moments.
22:57For me I don't think I would particularly vent.
23:03I don't think it would go down too well.
23:06But yeah.
23:07I think that it is important to find venting strategies.
23:10And it varies from person to person.
23:13Yeah.
23:13And he's got a few venting strategies hasn't he?
23:15He's employed them fully over the years.
23:185-1 down though.
23:19One more serve to come.
23:21And in real danger of dropping this first set now.
23:24To Thomas Martin Echeverry of Argentina.
23:28The world number 61 from La Plata near Buenos Aires.
23:32Murray serves.
23:32Forehand return from Echeverry.
23:34Murray's backhand.
23:35Slice backhand Echeverry.
23:36Slice backhand Murray.
23:38Echeverry slices his backhand onto the Murray forehand.
23:40Echeverry cross court with the backhand.
23:42Murray cross court with the backhand.
23:43Echeverry cross court again with the backhand.
23:45Now Murray goes down the line with the backhand.
23:47His forehand onto the backhand of Echeverry.
23:49Murray's backhand.
23:51Backhand into the net from Echeverry.
23:52So at least he's hung on to that service point.
23:54But 5-2.
23:56And this Argentina 6 foot 5 inches tall has plenty of advantages on the serve.
24:01He's got a couple of serves to come.
24:03And he's closing in on the first set.
24:07Again Andy's backhand cross just so solid.
24:10I just never think he's going to miss that shot.
24:18Yeah it's a fantastic weapon and that backhand down the line.
24:21He's hit sweetly on a couple of occasions here as well.
24:28Now Echeverry two points away.
24:30Misses the first serve at 2-5.
24:40Forehand return from Murray.
24:42Backhand from Echeverry.
24:43He's just trying to put pressure on his opponent here.
24:45And keep the ball in play.
24:47But also hitting it as forcefully as he can.
24:50A backhand down the line.
24:51Now a forehand down the line.
24:52And now a cushioned backhand volley from Murray.
24:53And now a forehand put away volley.
24:55And he's got the first of the two mini breaks back.
24:57He's still very much in this first set tie break.
24:59With Echeverry leading by 5 points to 3.
25:01Yeah it's so good to see him even when down.
25:05Playing really aggressive tennis and changing direction.
25:08Sometimes maybe it's easier to do that when you're so far behind in the scoreline.
25:12Because it's not tight.
25:15It's not as much pressure.
25:18You feel like you have less to lose.
25:21So I think that may be added to it.
25:24But still it's 6-all.
25:26And 5-3 is a very different scoreline to 6-2 down.
25:335-3.
25:34Just along with the first serve by Echeverry.
25:45Second serve.
25:46Murray's forehand return.
25:48Slice backhand Echeverry.
25:49Murray with the backhand.
25:51Carefully placed onto the forehand of the Argentine.
25:53Forehand from Echeverry.
25:55Forehand from Murray.
25:56With some air.
25:57Right to the back of the court.
25:58Murray's forehand.
25:59Backhand Echeverry.
26:01Echeverry's very deep in the court.
26:02And Murray has conjured up a bit of magic there.
26:04He was really, really jammed for space there.
26:08As that approach came in towards his body.
26:11But he's worked an off backhand.
26:13To within a couple of inches of the sideline.
26:15And he's got this tie break back on serve now.
26:18With Echeverry leading by 5 points to 4.
26:21Yeah, that was such an unbelievable backhand, actually.
26:25I'm not sure Andy knew exactly where the ball was going either.
26:29But, yeah, what a winner.
26:31He just pulled off.
26:32And now 5-4.
26:33It's back on serve.
26:37And suddenly Echeverry is reminded of who he's playing in this first round match at Indian Wells.
26:43It's the great Andy Murray on the other side of the net.
26:46He's just missed his first serve, Murray.
26:47He's 4-5 down.
26:49A lot of energy has been invested in this first set.
26:5285 minutes long now in total.
26:55It's pretty much an average set length in 2023 for Andy Murray.
26:59Is it going to end shortly?
27:00As he serves into the net.
27:02It's a double fault.
27:04And Echeverry has two set points, Emma.
27:07Yeah, Andy did not really accelerate on that second serve.
27:12It was quite slow.
27:15But, yeah, it's actually interesting to see.
27:19Even the best in the world, they can feel the pressure.
27:22And, yeah, it's difficult when you're based under so much.
27:28He really fell to the left of that first serve as it went in the net.
27:33So it's a second serve and Murray is two set points down.
27:374-6, second serve.
27:39Forehand reply from Echeverry.
27:40Murray with the forehand.
27:42Echeverry with the forehand.
27:43Murray's forehand cross court.
27:44Echeverry with the forehand cross court and wide.
27:47First of two set points is saved.
27:49So Murray is preying on his opponent here.
27:53His opponent has the advantage.
27:55He's holding the cards, if you like.
27:57Or at least he will be holding the balls because he's about to serve a second set point at 6
28:01-5.
28:02Yeah, I think Echeverry will definitely be feeling the pressure right now, having had a set point already and now
28:08one on his serve, playing Andy Murray and also having had 5-1 advantage earlier in the tiebreak.
28:15So mentally it will be interesting to see how he approaches this point if he continues being aggressive.
28:22Second set point of the tiebreak.
28:23Third in total in this set and he's just missed his first serve.
28:29The ball is returned to him by Murray.
28:32Echeverry tosses it to the ball boy.
28:34Ready to go again.
28:36Set point number three.
28:37Echeverry with the backhand to the Murray backhand.
28:39Echeverry with the backhand down the centre.
28:41Murray's backhand.
28:42Echeverry lifts a forehand to the Murray backhand.
28:45More power on this forehand down the line from Echeverry.
28:47Murray defending well.
28:49Backhand cross-court from him.
28:51He's worked Echeverry back into the rally but the Argentinians found the sideline.
28:55What a forehand to close out the first set on a tiebreak by 7 points to 5.
29:01It's a close call.
29:03It's a painfully close call for Andy Murray.
29:07Echeverry is pausing as if he needs confirmation from the replay.
29:11But we know full well that Hawkeye is not going to change its mind.
29:15Murray can't believe it.
29:17It's caught the very outside of the line.
29:19And Thomas Echeverry has the first set against Andy Murray on a tiebreak in 1 hour and 27 minutes, Emma.
29:26I mean, that is so unbelievably frustrating.
29:29I know exactly how he feels when you're almost waiting for the call because it's going out.
29:34And for it to drop and make the line by a hairpin, it's incredibly frustrating.
29:39Especially after an hour and 27.
29:41He's been out there.
29:42So, yeah, it's going to be so important for Andy to reset.
29:45And, yeah, he loves a battle.
29:47If anyone loves one, Andy does.
29:49So, yeah, I still back him.
29:51We shall see.
29:52Great view to come by.
29:54And thanks for staying a little bit longer.
29:55And I hope you enjoyed your first taste of radio commentary here on the BBC.
29:59It meant this day for a point.
30:00But I couldn't leave after seeing Andy battle, especially in the breaker.
30:05So, yeah, you've got a great view from up here.
30:07And thanks for having me.
30:08Lovely to see you.
30:09Well played today.
30:11I hope you continue to improve physically as well.
30:12And we'll see you in the second round on Saturday with a match against Magda Lynette of Poland.
30:17Thanks, Emma.
30:19So, first set in 88 minutes to Thomas Echeverry as Mark Woodford will move back into commentary now after a
30:33little breather at the back of the box.
30:38And you can now rate the commentary debut of the 2021 U.S. Open champion.
30:45Do you think she's got a future in the game?
30:49The commentary game?
30:50I would expect her to be, if she had some spare time in the coming years, that she would be
30:59a wonderful addition to the BBC Five Live crew.
31:04There will come a time where we'll be asking the question.
31:07I mean, normally what happens if you're a big, big, big, big, big, big star, like you win sort of
31:11multiple Grand Slam or probably even one Grand Slam if you're from the UK, you tend to end up being
31:16poached by television.
31:19And, well, you could, I'm sure, moonlight between both.
31:22That would be the ideal scenario.
31:24That would be a sharing.
31:25And I'll remind you in years to come, in 15 years' time, who gave her her first big break?
31:29That's it.
31:30Isn't that funny?
31:33She was only here for a brief period of time, but she got so invested in the fortunes of Andy
31:39there.
31:40And what a bonus to have her guiding through the tiebreaker there.
31:45That heartbreak, though, for Andy Murray, able to push it to a tiebreaker, but falling behind, just giving some distance
31:52and unable to close that gap there.
31:55A brave forehand by Echeverry to win the set.
31:58And you get more out of a player in a situation like that.
32:02I mean, I'm very aware that at times when you're quizzing a player about a match, particularly when she's got
32:07a few physical problems and she was suggesting maybe she's got some allergies and she wasn't feeling very well.
32:11And actually, she didn't look particularly great when she walked into the box.
32:16Her face, she looked like maybe there was some sort of allergy or she wasn't quite well, as she was
32:20explaining there.
32:21And, yes, it is a little bit confrontational at times.
32:24And then, of course, if you do get a chance to spend a bit more time with them and let
32:27them just relax and show their personality, you suddenly get a very, very different player and a very, very different
32:33person.
32:33Well, and I think the personality of Emma Raducanu there just started to shine as she did start to relax
32:40and add the comments to the end of that first set.
32:46But I'm sure that she is looking forward to just making that assessment tomorrow.
32:49See how she wakes up in the morning.
32:52It's what I got from standing in the back of the room.
32:55I was listening to those comments that she was making, but I'm sure she's, you know, not wanting to overdo
33:06it, but thrilled that she was able to survive that match today, given that she only agreed to play, what,
33:12five minutes beforehand?
33:14That's what she said.
33:15She was sleeping beauty in the player area, in the locker rooms.
33:19I thought she had been practising.
33:21I'd heard that she had been practising briefly, but she obviously hadn't today.
33:25Must have got my wires crossed.
33:26She certainly wasn't out here on Stadium Court 1, and I was here a couple of hours before play started.
33:31So that all makes sense.
33:33And, yeah, it was a bonus win, definitely.
33:36I'm not sure we should invest everything on her winning the title, but at least she's into the second round
33:40as Andy Murray serves an ace and moves to 40-15 in the first game of this second set.
33:45He's going to have to win two in a row if he's to stay in Indian Wells.
33:50Well, I think when she does come back in next time, Russell, you need to spend some time quizzing her
33:54further of where she is staying here in the desert.
33:59Which community?
34:00Is it Indian Wells?
34:01Is it somewhere else?
34:02The tournament has, this year, they have looked after some of the top players providing some housing as opposed to
34:09the free accommodation at the hotels that are close by.
34:14Forehand into the net from Echeverry.
34:16So Murray is held to 15.
34:18Yeah, I mean, I didn't want her thinking I was trying to get her address to publicise that on national
34:26radio.
34:27That would be inappropriate, I think, and irresponsible of the BBC.
34:30I was, well, you didn't see me.
34:31I was waving in the background saying, find out where, which country club is it?
34:36It'll be somewhere very nice, I'm sure.
34:38Yeah, she'll be well looked after.
34:43But it is a tournament as well that, you know, they just go that little extra.
34:47New car sponsor this year as well.
34:50BMW have stepped up to the plate.
34:52So furnishing some of the, I believe, the top 64 players there.
34:57They're given a brand new BMW to drive for the period of time that they are here.
35:04And, well, enjoying the weather.
35:06It has taken a positive turn and should be for the rest of the tournament.
35:11At least for the next five days.
35:12The conditions during the day should be near perfect.
35:16If we could just get rid of that breeze that we've had the last couple of days,
35:21then we'll have the most pleasant condition.