Sunday 29 March 2015 19:03, UK
Peter Fleming believes Andy Murray should keep faith with his aggressive returning tactics after brushing aside Santiago Giraldo at the Miami Open.
The British No 1 attacked Giraldo’s serve throughout his 6-3 6-4 victory as he set-up a fourth round clash with Kevin Anderson.
At times, Murray edged further inside the court to despatch returns past the helpless Colombian and this adventurous approach was welcomed by Sky Sports expert Fleming.
A lot of people would struggle with (standing inside the baseline), would miss returns, but because his hands are so exceptional, he almost never misses.
He next faces the big-serving Anderson, but Fleming feels Murray should stay on the attack, even against the world’s top players, with a possible meeting with Rafael Nadal lying ahead in the semi-finals.
“Against a guy like Giraldo, who doesn’t have a strong second serve, it was probably more marked,” he told Sky Sports. “We have seen in the previous few weeks that he does like to stand well inside the baseline, even against bigger servers.
“A lot of people would struggle with that, would miss returns, but because his hands are so exceptional, he almost never misses.
“That’s quite a new tactic for Andy or a new emphasis, I should say, because I remember watching him beat Nadal that year (2008) – the first time at the US Open. So often he would stand up on Nadal’s second serve and just crunch winning returns. I thought this could be a real nice tactic for him going forward against the best players.
“He seemed to get away from that – he hasn’t done that for quite a while – and I think that’s a good tactic to employ against everybody.
“But also against the guys like Federer and Djokovic who defend so well and are so good. To be able to put them off guard and put them on the back foot form at time to time, I think is a positive.”
Anderson advanced with a straight sets win over Leonardo Mayer and Fleming has warned that he could be a stumbling block to Murray, who is targeting his 500th tour-level career victory.
He said: “I think Kevin is one of these guys who serve so well and is so solid, behind the serve, that if Andy’s level drops 10 per cent then he’s going to struggle to break, and then who knows.
“Anything can happen then. It depends on his mood a bit, so you can’t write off Anderson by any stretch. “
