Fresh from his victory at the Olympics Games, the top seed, Andy Murray made his debut at the Western & Southern Open with a win over Juan Monaco. Both players played against each other just a week ago at the Olympics where the Brit won in straight sets. Today the story wasn’t different as Murray also dominated most of the match. Despite struggling with some discomfort on his right shoulder, Murray was able to end this match in just 79 minutes by a scoreline of 6-3, 6-2.
Murray takes the opening set over Juan Monaco
In the first game, Murray faced break point but saved it after hitting a serve that Monaco was unable to return. The Brit didn’t let Monaco have another chance to break and closed his serve to lead 1-0. The Argentine didn’t waste any time to level up the score. Murray got his first break point after hitting an outstanding passing shot, he then tried to win the game hitting another passing shot but Monaco blocked him to end the point with a volley and go back to deuce. The Argentine managed to hold after a missed return from his opponent to tie at 2-2. The Brit then held to love to be up 3-2, but Monaco didn’t share the same luck as even if he held to level up to 3-3 he had to come through a complicated game of serve.
After holding to be up 4-3, Murray requested to see the trainer and then proceeded to receive medical time on his right shoulder. After the medical timeout, Murray got himself a second break point that he would later convert after a wide ball from Monaco. Murray needed to consolidate the break to win the opening set and he did without facing any problems after hitting a powerful forehand that Monaco failed to return.
Murray fights shoulder discomfort to break Monaco three times
Following the great momentum, Murray quickly created a breaking opportunity that his opponent handed after hitting a forehand unforced error. However, the break didn’t last long as he gave Monaco the chance to recover the break. Having two break points, Murray handed the break after a backhand unforced error to let go of the lead and be tied at 1-1. An erratic game from Monaco made him face another break point, just like in the first game of the set he was not able to save it after hitting a backhand into the net to give Murray the lead again at 2-1. The Brit still had some discomfort on his shoulder and asked to see trainer again before serving to extend his lead to 3-1.
That break gave the Brit enough confidence to try it again, he managed to get two break points. Monaco couldn’t do much after Murray hit a return that left him in an uncomfortable position and ended you yielding the break. The recent gold medalist didn’t have any problem to consolidate this second break as he now led 5-1. Monaco was not ready to give the victory to Murray, at least not on his serve, the Argentine held to shorten the gap and be 2-5, although he was still two breaks down. Now the pressure was on Murray who needed to serve for the match, the Brit didn’t give anything away and closed it with a hold to love after hitting a forehand winner to book a spot into the second round.
Next for Andy Murray
In the second round, the top seed will have a dangerous opponent as he will take on Kevin Anderson of South Africa. The Scotsman leads their series 5-2, however, Anderson won their last encounter which happened in 2015 where he pulled an upset over the world number two in the fourth round of the US Open. Prior that match, Murray had defeated the South African at the final in Queens.
