Posted: 14:57, August 29, 2022 | Updated: 19:15, 29 August 2022
Andy Murray got his US Open campaign off to a flying start with a straight sets win over 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo in New York. The 35-year-old entered the tournament having won just one match on North American hard courts and with persistent cramp concerns, but it proved to be a relatively straightforward outing in humid conditions. Argentina’s Cerundolo has won the most ranking points on clay and Murray had to weather several big rallies on his way to a 7-5 6-3 6-3 win, with the only real negative being a break on serve. all three sets. Andy Murray booked his place in the second round of this year’s US Open on Monday The Brit achieved his first straight sets win at a Grand Slam tournament in five years It was the first time Murray had won a meaty set match at a grand slam since Wimbledon five years ago and he said: “It felt like five sets. It’s very tough conditions, very humid and hot. I was very happy with the way it went. I passed, it wasn’t easy.” Ten years after his maiden grand slam title and with Ivan Lendl back in his box, Murray remains optimistic that he can have more memorable grand slam days. On-field training is allowed this year for the first time and Murray said of Lendl with a smile: “He’s a man of few words. He didn’t say much but it’s very important that he’s there supporting me. He’s still there, supporting me at this stage of my career me, while a lot of people wouldn’t.” He hadn’t been past the second round at Flushing Meadows since 2016, but this was a gracious draw. Cerundolo is still looking for his first main draw win at a slam and is inexperienced on hard cards. Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo was no match for Murray at Louis Armstrong Stadium Murray got off to a shaky start, dropping his opening serve at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, the scene of tough battles for the Scot before it was rebuilt. He immediately set about trying to ensure that wouldn’t be the case again, winning four games in a row and appearing poised to take the first set only to play an awful service game at 5-3. He became enraged in the next game when Cerundolo was awarded a point despite the ball appearing to bounce twice as he lunged for a drop volley. The Scot brushed aside fitness concerns after his three-set battle with Cerundolo The referee was powerless to overturn his decision but, after two slow-motion replays on the big screen in favor of Murray, Cerundolo sportingly awarded the point to his opponent – a gesture the Scot thanked him for after the match. Cerundolo, who had lost all four of his previous matches to British players, still held serve but then gifted the set to his opponent two games later with a double fault. Murray was 5-0 up in the second before losing three games in a row, but the Scot was virtually in full control now and, barring another failure to serve out a set, finished strongly. Follow Sportsmail’s live coverage of Andy Murray’s first round match at the US Open in New York.
