ATP
US Open Men’s Day 2
Andy Murray fought off a tough customer in Corentin Moutet, working for three hours for a straight-set win against the feisty Frenchman for a place in the US Open second round on Tuesday.
The veteran Scot who won the title here in 2012, produced a 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 victory, which he ended on a third match point.
“It was amazing, a brilliant atmosphere,” the No. 37 said of what he called his best match since undergoing hip replacement surgery more than half a decade ago.
“Moutet is one of the most skillful players and has many ways to disrupt you; he always causes a little bit of chaos.”
The Frenchman was momentarily annoyed when he was called late in the third set on a return not up – but which the computerised line-calling system failed to pick up due to an electronic gremlin.
“I’m happy to get through in straight sets,” former No. 1 Murray said. “It was a very tight match but I’m happy it only took three hours – it was shorter than a lot of my matches this season.”
Murray pulled out of the final big warmup event at Cincinnati over abdominal fitness concerns but said he is feeling good with his game as he plays at his highest ranking since injury dramas surfaced in 2017.
“Preparation was tricky, I had to build up my serving slowly.”I’m on my highest ranking since getting my metal hip and I’m happy to still be going.”
Third-seeded 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev began his campaign with the loss of just two games against outclassed Hungarian Attila Balazs, winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.
Medvedev has won four of his five titles this season on hardcourt and now stands 33-5 on his favourite surface this season.
“It’s always good to start well, I’m happy with my performance,” the winner said.
“I’m looking forward to the next matches and playing for as long as possible in New York.
“I hope I can play better and better each match but each one is going to be more difficult.”
Medvedev ended with 13 unforced errors and never faced a break point in his comprehensive first-round victory.
He next plays Christopher O’Connell, who defeated fellow Australian Max Purcell 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5)..
The 34-year-old Balazs no longer has a ranking due to injury but is playing here with a protected ranking of 101.d ranking of No. 101.
Medvedev called his 74-minute sweep “probably the fastest three-set match I’ve played.”
Karen Khachanov, seeded 11, went down 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to American wild card entry Michael Mohr.
Alexander Zverev, the 12th seed, who played the final here three years ago, began his 2023 progression 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, putting out Australian Aleksander Vukic.
The 16th seeded Cameron Norrie added a British win as he ended a four-match loss streak by winning his first since Wimbledon, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 over Alexander Shevchenko.
“It was nice to get through that one straight sets,” Norrie said. “I played well in the big moments, served well.
“It was a lot of physical rallies, long points, and the courts were quite slow.
“It was I a good performance and overall I was moving solid, and I did everything pretty well.”
2019 semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini continued his long comeback from injury, advancing in his opening match 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 over Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
John Isner stayed alive at his 17th Open appearance as the American plays his farewell event.
The serving king beat Facundo Diaz-Acosta 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (1) to move to the second round
“It’s not goodbye yet, I’m still alive and I’m feeling pretty good,” Isner said at an on-court ceremony which felt at times like a retirement.
“I want to try and keep this things going for as long as I possibly can.”
The two-time quarter-finalist and the Armstrong court crowd were entertained by a tribute highlight reel of the American’s best moments at the Open over the years after the match.
Main photo:- Happy chappy! Andy Murray all smiles as he wins first round match in straight sets.
Holger Rune battled past injured Carlos Alcaraz to spoil the Spanish Easter party at the Barcelona Open, with the Dane lifting the trophy 7-6 (6), 6-2.
The pair of 21-year-olds were familiar foes, having played 20 times in juniors before hitting the Tour; Rune won the first 500 series title of his career and his fifth overall.
Alcaraz was treated three times in the second set after an apparent injury to his upper right thigh/groin after duelling hard in the opening set at the Real Club.
The loss will send Alcaraz back to third in the rankings, with Alexander Zverev moving back to second behind Jannik Sinner as a result of winning the Munich title on Sunday.
Rune, a first-round victim last week in Monte Carlo, reversed his clay momentum in Spain, handing Alcaraz a first loss of a set for the week.
The Spanish top seed’s two final shots both clipped the top of the net and fell back as Rune raised his hands in celebration after 97 minutes on court in the Catalan capital.
“This means the world,” the winner said. “I started the match stressed, he was playing big-time tennis.
“I was able to find my rhythm after he broke me (3-2 in the opening set) and I got more into the match.
“The first set was a big battle with a lot of important points. It was super-important to win the set and gain momentum.
“I’m so proud of myself.”
Rune ended with 18 winners while the ailing Alcaraz produced 33 unforced errors. The Dane claimed his 50th match win on clay and levelled his Tour record in the series to 2-2.
Rune said he channeled Novak Djokovic’s Paris Olympic gold medal win from last summer over Alcaraz as he struggled to turn his game around in Barcelona.
“I asked myself what Novak did to win that final. I (realised) that I didn’t need to hit every ball on the line. I need to make him play and hit a lot of balls.”
Rune, who won the elite Paris Bercy Masters 1000 title in 2022, finally began reversing a 13-match loss streak against top five opponents.with his title victory.
Alcaraz may be racing for fitness with the Madrid Masters starting on Wednesday as the ATP ploughs ahead with an unpopular two-week format for Masters tournaments despite growing protest from exhausted players.
Main photo:- Holger Rune celebrates Barcelona win – by ATPTour.com
Alexander Zverev turned 28 on Sunday and awarded himself a third title on his home Munich clay as he beat Ben Shelton 6-2,6-4 to win the ATP event.
The 2017 and 2018 champion here is now threatening Carlos Alcaraz as the pair duel for the world No. 2 position which the Spaniard took over last week after winning Monte Carlo.
Zverev schooled lefthander Shelton in 70 minutes for a second win in their series. The winner becomes the second to hold three Munich titles after countryman Philipp Kohlschreiber (2007, 2012, 2016).
“I’m enjoying my birthday so far,” Zverev said. “It’s extremely special to win in Germany, the most special thing I can do.
January’s Australian Open finalist added: “It’s definitely a great birthday present, I knew I had to play my best today, conditions were very hot and very fast.They were perfect for me.”
The winner broke three times while never facing a challenge to his serve from Shelton as he claimed a sixth career title at the 500-Tour level.
Main photo:- Alexander Zverev with his “birthday” trophy – by BMW Open/Bitpanda
Alexander Zverev gave fans in Munich what they were after as the top seed rolled into the final of the clay ATP in Bavaria with a 7-6 (3), 6-3 defeat of Fabian Marozsan.
World No. 3 Zverev, who won the titles in 2017 and 2018 needed 91 minutes to advance into a title match with Ben Shelton.
The American earned his spot with a .2-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4 defeat of Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.
Zverev advanced with nine aces and broke twice in the tidy win over his Hungarian opposition.
“It’s awesome. The entire week has been great. Everybody is really enjoying the weather as well as the new Center Court,” the winner said. .
“I’m enjoying myself and hopefully I will have another great day tomorrow.”
Shelton reached his fourth career final, becoming the first American man to reach a clay final above ATP 250 level since Andre Agassi won the Rome Masters 23 years ago.
“It’s a big win for me. To get a win on clay against a guy like him gives me a lot of confidence,” Shelton.
“I’m really happy and excited to be in a 500-level final in Europe, my second clay-court tournament this season.
“I’ve been playing well this week and I’m not too stressed right now.”
Main photo:-Alexander Zverev winning in front of his home crowd – by ATPTour.com
Sabalenka hoping to turn her luck in Stuttgart
Rune rises to the occasion with defeat of Alcaraz
Zverev grabs a birthday gift with third Munich title
-
Dubai3 weeks agoKasatkina confirms move to Australia
-
ATP4 weeks agoHenman joins Team Europe as Noah’s assistant
-
ATP4 weeks agoDimitrov casts his spell on Khachanov
-
Rouen4 days agoDart apologizes for “stinky” opponent jibe
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoPaolini powers past Osaka in Miami
-
ATP3 weeks agoBadosa aims for back injury return by Madrid
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoRaducanu wins Miami “Emmafest”
-
Miami Open4 weeks agoRaducanu set for huge rankings boost after Miami Open win