In year's past, Andy Murray would arrive to the Rogers Cup fresh off a vacation and playing his first tennis since Wimbledon. This year is a different story. It has been quite a busy few months for the world number three. After getting married, expected fatherhood, and clinching a Davis Cup tie, Murray comes into Montreal anything but fresh. But after a shocking opening match exit in Washington, Murray looks to restart his hard court swing up north.

We're sure you remember the last time Murray faced off against Tommy Robredo. Don't remember? Here's a flashback. The draw wasn't very welcoming to the number two seed, drawing journeyman Robredo in the second round. Although it isn't an ideal opening round matchup on paper, it is a match that will get the Brit in a rhythm for the rest of the tournament.

Robredo's second serve dooms him in opening set

If you like long extended rallies and exquisite defense, this was the match for you. Early on, Murray grinded his way to an early break, converting on his fourth chance and jumping out to a 3-1 lead. The whole first set Robredo was throwing everything he had at Murray but the Scot wouldn't budge. Feeling confident on serve, Murray didn't exert too much energy on his return games and tended to focus solely on his service games. That tactic would quickly come to haunt the Brit as Robredo converts on his first break point of the match to get back on serve 3-4 and also make Murray think twice about his gameplan.

At four-all, the match was suspended due to rain and were forced to continue a day later. The match resumed Wednesday afternoon with Murray picking up right where he left off with a quick hold. Robredo raced out to a 40-15 lead to stay in the set at 4-5 down but his dreadful percentage of points won did him in as the world number three broke to take the set 6-4. How bad was that percentage you ask? Robredo won only 17 percent of second serve points. In a tight set, that made a world of difference. 

Another physical set captured by Murray

Similarly to the opening set, the rallies were physically punishing. We saw Robredo hit practically every shot in the book, but Murray tirelessly tracked them down time and again. On break point down at 30-40, the Spaniard finally bested the Brit as Murray's persistent defense let up as he barely could get a racket onto a ball which left an easy overhead putaway for Robredo. Both men would hold until the fifth game.

In that fifth game, the Spaniard went aggressive on the return of serve which had him in a winning position from early on in the point. He finished it off with a delightful inside-out forehand to set up break point. A wild backhand on break point gave Robredo his first break lead of the match. 

It took awhile, the eighth game to be exact, but Murray finally delivered the break back he needed. His persistence was key in the break point as he continuously pushed Robredo in multiple slices and a tiresome backhand to backhand rally before opening up the courts with some forehand to deliver the final blow. 

There wasn't really a sense of trouble until Robredo fell a couple of match points down when serving to stay in the match. Another brutally physical rally capped off the match, and it was Murray's net cord slice winner that gave him the victory. These two men never fail to disappoint after two memorable matches in Shenzhen and Valencia last year. Murray will now take on Gilles Muller in the round of 16. 

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About the author
Noel John Alberto
Filipino-American sports journalist from Toms River, NJ. UMBC Graduate and aspiring physical therapist. Tennis editor and multi-sport coordinator for VAVEL USA. Writer for Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Serie A sections of VAVEL UK. Sports aficionado. Host of the On The Line tennis podcast.