The top seed, Andy Murray scored another victory to book his spot into the third round of the Western & Southern Open. This time, he faced Kevin Anderson, a player that had given him a hard time last year when Murray lost to him in the fourth round of the US Open. However, this match was a different story as Murray found the key to break Anderson’s serve. Despite still presenting some discomfort in his shoulder, Murray improved enormously in the second set. After 90 minutes, Andy Murray defeated Kevin Anderson 6-3, 6-2. This match also marked Andy Murray’s 600th win and is unbeaten in 20 matches.
Despite shoulder discomfort, Murray takes the opening set
Murray started the match with a solid hold, while the South African struggled to hold his first game but eventually won it to level things at 1-1. Now it was the turn of the Brit to have some problems with his serve as he was up 40-15 but blew up two game points, still, despite the mistakes from the top seed Anderson was not able to get a break point and Murray safely held to lead 2-1. The South African didn’t give anything away and was able to tie the score at 2-2. It was Anderson the first one to get a chance to break after hitting a winner smash. Murray was able to save one of the two break points, but the Scotsman hit a double fault to hand the first break. The world number two showed some discomfort in his first round match against Monaco and he continued having problems on his right shoulder.
A visibly upset Murray knew he needed to break back as Anderson wouldn’t give him too many chances on his break. After two unforced errors from Murray, the top seed couldn’t hide his frustration but quickly recovered after hitting a fantastic lob to get a break point. The lead of Anderson wouldn’t last too long as Murray broke back after hitting a cross-court forehand passing shot to level things up at 3-3. The Brit had to overcome four stressful deuces to hold his serve and be up 4-3. Murray got two break points, but the South African saved it with the help of his serve. However, Anderson was not able to save the third break point as Murray ran to the end to end the point with a passing shot. Serving for the first set was not a challenge for the top seed as Anderson handed the first set after hitting a wide ball.
Murray dominates in the second set
After a tough first set, Anderson had the pressure to start this second set with a solid hold. However, the Brit had different plans and made the South African struggle as he faced one break point that was eventually able to save to win his serve. Instead, Murray continued his great form and held to tie at 1-1. In the following game, Anderson improved as he was helped by his serve to be up 2-1, but Murray was not stepping down as he showed by holding to love. Once again it was Murray who struck first following a backhand winner to now lead 3-2.
Murray had not a problem to consolidate the break as he only lost one point on his serve before leading 4-2. Despite having some problems in the first set, Murray was now completely focused and was returning everything which forced the South African to make mistakes that would later become a break point. Murray wasted one chance to get that double break but a forehand winner handed him the second break and extended the lead to 5-2. The Brit quickly got himself three match points after playing some amazing winners, Anderson saved one match point but a backhand unforced error from the South African gave the victory to Andy Murray.
Next for Andy Murray
In the third round, Andy Murray will face Bernard Tomic from Australia. This will be their fifth meeting, the Scotsman having won all of their previous encounters. The last time they faced each other was this year at the Australian Open where Murray won in straight sets. The Australian has only been able to take a set from Murray once, in 2015 at a Davis Cup meeting.
