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Tuesday, August 25, 2020, 10:10
Murray claims biggest win of comeback at Western & Southern
By Reuters
Tuesday, August 25, 2020, 10:10 By Reuters

Andy Murray, of Great Britain, returns a shot from Alexander Zverev, of Germany, during the second round at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Aug 24, 2020, in New York. (FRANK FRANKLIN II / AP)

Andy Murray claimed the biggest win of his comeback and a place in the last 16 of the Western and Southern Open on Monday, taking out self-destructing fifth seed Alexander Zverev 6-3 3-6 7-5.

Next up for Andy Murray is another big hitter, Canadian Milos Raonic, who advanced to the last with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Briton Daniel Evans

Working his way back to match fitness after undergoing a second round of hip surgery in January, Murray offered hope that he was on the right track with a tidy first-round win over Frances Tiafoe on Saturday.

But it is Monday’s win over the big-hitting German on a steamy, hot New York afternoon that will provide a huge confidence boost in the run-up to the US Open that starts next week.

ALSO READ: Murray makes winning return at eerie Western and Southern Open

Neither player will include the contest in their career highlight reels, particularly a scrappy third set that was riddled with unforced errors and momentum swings.

Murray would be the first to take control in the third, racing ahead 4-1, but was left mumbling and scolding himself as Zverev broke the Briton twice on his way to sweeping the next four games and taking a 5-4 lead.

But serving for the match Zverev double-faulted three times to gift Murray a break and extend the match.

Murray then held serve and finished off the crumbling German, with the help of two more double faults, with a final break to register his first win over at top-10 ranked opponent since 2017.

“It was a big one to get through,” said Murray. “I’m satisfied to get through it against a top player having not played for such a long time and I get another opportunity to compete again tomorrow.

READ MORE: Murray calls for more mixed-gender events on main tours

“This will give me an idea of where my body is at,” said Murray, a past winner of the Western and Southern, which is normally held in Cincinnati but was moved this year in order to move players inside a protective bubble ahead of the US Open.

Next up for Murray is another big hitter, Canadian Milos Raonic, who advanced to the last with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Briton Daniel Evans.

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