Andy Murray avoided the same fate as Roger Federer by routinely beating Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-4.
Murray started sluggishly, having not played Beijing, Shenzhen, or any event since his involvement in Great Britain’s Davis Cup Semi Final. Johnson would break after seeing three second serves and a double fault helping him to deuce. Johnson would break to lead.
Murray quickly earned the break back, counter-attacking off Johnson’s angled drives, and a limp double-fault ensuring that Murray levelled. Murray looked much more assured in his second service game, taking the initiative much earlier in rallies in holding to fifteen. Murray continued, and once again broke the 47th ranked American to this time lead. The American could not cope with Murray’s sheer consistency, with Murray often winning points over nine shots or more. Murray , executed some trademark running forehands for winners, now looking refreshed rather than sluggish after the break.
Johnson succumbed in his third service game, having held just the once. Murray wasted one set point on second serve, trying to take the ball early, but netting the return. His next return was far more critical, landing right near Johnson’s feet. The first set belonged to Murray.
Both men would hold in the second set, a comforting feeling for Johnson, before both exchanged cute drop-volleys in Murray’s second game. Johnson would do well to recover from fifteen-thirty to hold to deuce in game four. Johnson was increasingly trying to use the slice to combat Murrat, changing the flow of play with mixed results, some executed beautifully, but others ending in the net or drifting wide. Murray was forced to fend off a break point in game seven, and a second when he missed a volley. He would eventually hold to stay on serve in the second set.
Johnson now had a rhythm on serve at least, staying with Murray in set two, and earning more points against the no.2’s serve, though without breaking. Murray held to force Johnson to serve to stay in the match. Murray then turned up the pressure, creating love-thirty, and a lob winner brought Murray three match points. Murray capitalised on the second when a Johnson forehand sailed long.
Murray: “Physically I feel good, it was important to get some time away from the court… there will be some more weeks where I won’t be playing”
On playing Isner in the third round “He’s always a tough guy to play against… I’ve played well against him in the past“. Murray’s head-to-head with Isner is 4-0.
Murray is in the same half of the draw as Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych.
