Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray admits he made some ‘poor decisions’ during his opening match in Indian Wells but once again he has managed to prevail in three sets.
The former world No.1 battled back from a set down to edge out Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4, after more than three hours of play in what was yet another marathon encounter featuring the Brit. Murray produced a total of 28 winners and broke his opponent four times en route to victory. In the 67-minute decider, he struggled to tame Etcheverry who saved seven out of the eight break points he faced.
“In some of the matches I managed to win this year, I felt like I was fortunate in some of them, whereas today I really had lots of chances in that third set,” Murray said afterwards.
“I wasn’t getting them and was getting really frustrated. He was coming up with some big serves at times but I also felt like I made some poor decisions as well. The more chances that went by the more you think about it.
“I did really well to keep going in the end… Another brutal match and glad I managed to get through it.”
Tough wins have been a regular fixture of Murray’s 2023 season. He has won seven matches played this season with all of them requiring him to go the full distance. Four of those victories saw him battle back from dropping the opening set. Players such as Matteo Berrettini and Alexander Zverev were on the verge of beating Murray before losing to him.
The 35-year-old admits that his run of deciding-set triumphs will not last forever but he aims to keep his momentum running for as long as possible. As to how he has managed to get himself into this position, Murray credits the work he has done during the off-season with his team.
“I don’t think it is a coincidence, but last year I lost a lot of them,” he said. “I was talking to my team about it, just saying like the law of averages… this can’t keep going. Once I won one I did feel like I would start to feel more comfortable in those situations. Thankfully that’s been the case. Obviously winning all seven, I’m aware that at some stage I’m going to lose one of them.
“I worked very hard in the off-season to put myself in a great position physically, and I feel very motivated. Even when I’ve gotten behind in matches I’ve kept fighting, kept trying to find solutions… I won some matches that certainly if some of these matches were played last year I wouldn’t have won them.”
Also through to the second round in Indian Wells is fellow Brit Jack Draper who defeated Leandro Riedi 6-1, 6-1. Draper, who could play Murray in the third round, is participating in his first tournament since the Australian Open. The world No.56 won 87% of his first service points and will next play compatriot Dan Evans who had a bye in the first round due to being a seeded player.
As for Murray, his next test will be against Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round. It will be the first Tour meeting between the two players.
