Former world No.1 Andy Murray has kicked-off his campaign at the San Diego Open with a comprehensive win over last-minute entrant Denis Kudla.
Murray, who reached the quarter-finals in Metz last week, cruised to a 6-3, 6-2, win over the lucky loser in just 70 minutes. Kudla entered the draw as a late replacement for Kei Nishikori who was forced to withdraw due to a lower back injury. Throughout the clash Murray produced an impressive service performance by winning 90% of his first serves and he didn’t face a single break point. He broke Kudla once in the first set and twice in the second.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, who has been blighted by injury setbacks over the past two years, believes he is heading in the right direction in his bid to enter the world’s top 100 once again. Something Murray hasn’t done since May 2018. He is currently ranked 109th in the world.
“It’s been better,” Murray said. “The U.S. Open was sort of the start of where I played a bit better and I just need to start beating some higher ranked players.”
It was at the US Open where the 34-year-old took Stefanos Tsitsipas to five sets in the first round before losing. More recently in Metz he scored wins over Ugo Humbert and Vasek Pospisil before falling to Hubert Hurkacz.
The next test for Murray in San Diego will be a showdown with second seed Caper Ruud in what will be their first meeting on the Tour. The Brit has scored 102 wins over top 10 players on the Tour during his career but the last time he did so was against Alexander Zverev at the 2020 Western and Southern Open.
“I’ve had opportunities in those matches against the top players I’ve played. I think I can beat them. I just need to start converting some of my opportunities against them and I get an opportunity on Thursday to do that against Ruud,” Murray commented.
Elsewhere in the tournament, sixth seed Diego Schwartzman has also booked his place in the second round after beating Italian qualifier Federico Gaio 6-2, 6-3, in his opening match. This week the Argentine is bidding to reach his first ever ATP final on American soil. Awaiting him in the next round will be Lloyd Harris who ousted Christopher Eubanks 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Top seed Andrey Rublev will play his first match of the tournament on Wednesday.
