British tennis star Andy Murray says that he was getting ‘belted by everyone’ in practice prior to his high-profile win at the Western and Southern Open on Monday.
The former world No.1 upset Germany’s Alexander Zverev 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, in the second round of the Western and Southern Open in what is his biggest win in terms of ranking since the 2017 French Open. Throughout the tricky encounter, Murray was tested by his rival and was on the brink of losing at one stage. In the decider, he led 4-1 before losing four straight games. Despite the blip, he regained his footing by breaking the Zverev serve twice in a row to snatch the win.
“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,” said Murray.
“Obviously it was a big one to get through, I think. If I put myself — if I had lost the match from being 4-1 up in the third, you know, having opportunities and kind of the way that I played to go down, you know, from 4-1 to 5-4 was obviously not very good.”
“I was satisfied obviously to get through it, get a win against a top player after having not played for such a long time.”
This week is Murray’s first taste of competitive tennis on the ATP Tour this season after being sidelined from action earlier this year due to pelvic bruising. The latest in a series of setbacks for the three-time Grand Slam champion who has also undergone two hip operations in recent years.
Through to the third round of a Masters 1000 event for the first time in three years, Murray candidly admits to an extent that he is surprised by his latest scalp. Saying that his form during practice didn’t reflect his latest form on the court’s in New York.
“If you watched my practice sets and stuff and the build-up to the tournament, you would have said, ‘No’. I was getting belted by everyone,” Murray replied when asked if he expected to be playing at this level.
“That had also been the case when I had been playing practice matches and practice sets back home. Couldn’t win one. But practice doesn’t really matter. It’s what obviously you do on the match court.”
Perhaps the most significant outcome for Murray wasn’t who he beat but how his body held up throughout the two-and-a-half hour encounter. A much needed confidence boost heading into next week’s US Open.
“I was moving pretty well at the end of the match. Definitely had some lulls in there, like drop-offs in intensity, a bit of energy at times. It was ridiculously hot at the beginning of the match, unbelievably hot and humid,” Murray commented on his performance. “I think I would have gotten through a five-setter… it would have been tough, for sure.”
As for Zverev, the world No.7 is sticking to the positives about his latest loss. During the five-month break in tennis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 23-year-old maintained his match fitness by playing exhibition matches at the Adria Tour and Ultimate Tennis Showdown.
“I think it was not the best match I have ever played, but after six months off, it’s not easy to come back,” said Zverev.
Murray will play Milos Raonic next in what will be a repeat of the 2016 Wimbledon final.
