Murray and Laura Robson have to settle for silver

Sunday 5 August 2012

Andy Murray and Laura Robson claimed only the silver medal in the Olympic tennis mixed doubles tonight.

The Team GB duo took the first set against Belarussia's Max Mirnyi and Victoria Azarenka and raised hopes of another tennis gold, but fell away and eventually lost a champions' tie-break to the no.1 seeds.

Murray returned to centre court at Wimbledon 45 minutes after having one gold medal hung around his neck following his trouncing of Roger Federer in his quest for another, this time with Robson alongside him. The pair, who needed a wild card to get into the tournament, had come through three tight matches to reach the final, including two yesterday. But they were playing on a high and began by breaking the Mirnyi serve when Murray arrowed a backhand return down at the big Belarusian's feet. Centre Court, now showing substantial gaps, roared its approval, and the British pair were in total control of the first set when they made it three games in a row by breaking the Azarenka serve to love. Robson, the last British athlete to join the team after a late withdrawal, was up against the women's world number one but she was far from outclassed and when it fell to the 18-year-old to serve out the set, she did not waver. Murray and Robson have won the first set in all their matches this week only to lose the second, and it was the same pattern when Robson was broken in the fourth game. Murray netted a volley to give away a break point and Azarenka's return was too good for his partner. The British pair tried to fight back but the Belarusians upped their game and Mirnyi was rock solid as he served it out 6-3 to send the contest into the deciding match tie-break. Things began badly for the British pair when Robson double-faulted and they were quickly 3-0 down, but Murray held both his service points and they were back level when Robson's volley landed on the line. The 18-year-old had tightened up, though, and another double fault gave the Belarussians a slender advantage once more. Murray got them back on track at 5-5 with a thumping volley but Mirnyi drilled a return straight at Robson to edge the top seeds 7-6 ahead and Azarenka held both her service points. That brought up three match points. The British pair saved the first with a smart volley from Murray and Mirnyi shanked a return on the second. But the Belarussian had one more on his own serve and Murray's return was meat and drink for Azarenka, who volleyed her way to gold. The pair followed in Murray's footsteps and climbed up to their box to celebrate with friends and family, while the Scot slapped his racquet on to his bag in frustration as he and Robson had to settle for silver.

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Murray and Laura Robson have to settle for silver

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