Andy Murray pulled off a surprise victory against  Alexander Zverev in the second round of the Western and Southern Opencoming back from the brink of defeat for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 win.

It was Murray's first top ten victory in over three years when he defeated Kei Nishikori at the 2017 French Open while Zverev, playing his first match since the ATP Tour resumed, will carry a 6-6 record into the upcoming US Open.

The first three games went to the server with Murray making the first breakthrough, claiming a 3-1 lead after a ten-point game. After saving a pair of break points in the seventh game, he closed out the set when the German flew a forehand long.

Much like the first set, the second went the way of the server over the first six game with each man saving break points, Zverev two in the first game, Murray three in the sixth. Finally, the fourth seed broke through after a punishing forehand forced a netted volley by the Brit.

He closed out the set a game later when the three-time major champion sailed his own forehand over the baseline to level the match and force a third set.

The final set saw Murray make the first move, breaking for a 3-1 advantage which he would give back later in the set as Zverev broke in consecutive games to go ahead 5-4 and serve for the match. The Brit made one last charge, running off the final three games, a forehand winner on match point sealing victory. 

VAVEL Logo
About the author