Three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray has got off to an emphatic start at the China Open after edging out eighth seed Matteo Berrettini in the first round.
Murray, who is playing singles in only his fourth ATP Tour event since undergoing a second hip operation, rallied to a 7-6(2), 7-6(7), triumph in just over two hours. The victory was by no means a straightforward encounter for the former world No.1, who was down a break in both sets. Nevertheless, he managed to prevail with the help of 13 winners to 14 unforced errors. A contrast to Berrettini’s tally of 35 and 32.
“It’s tough. I haven’t played many matches.” Murray said during his on-court interview. “At the end, I was just trying to fight and played offensively as possible. It cost me on a few points, but helped me out a little bit at the end.’
“It was just one or two points in both sets.” He added.
The opening set was a roller-coaster encounter for both players. Berrettini, who reached the semi-finals of the US Open last month, started the strongest early on as he worked his way to a break advantage. However, the world No.13 buckled at the worst possible moment. Serving for the set at 5-4, a series of unforced errors paved the way for Murray to break back and level the match at 5-5. Continuing to gain in momentum, the Brit continued to capitalize on mistakes made from across to court to clinch the one-set lead.
It was a case of deja vu in the second frame with Murray trading breaks with his opponent once again. Murray’s fighting spirit kept him on level ground with Berrettini, who powerful hitting both helped and hindered him. With the little disparity between the two, it would be another tense tiebreaker that separated them.
Seeing a 4-2 lead disappear in the second tiebreak, Murray was then forced to save two set points on route to drawing level at 7-7. Clawing his way back, a serve out wide from the Brit rewarded him his first match point. He then went on to seal victory with the help of a Berrettini backhand crashing into the net.
“I think in the first set I served better than him. In the second I don’t think there was any difference (between us). We played very tight points up at the net at the end and thankfully I came out on top.” The world No.503 said of his latest performance.
The victory is Murray’s first over a top 20 player since undergoing career-saving hip resurfacing surgery. His last triumph over a player in that category was 12 months ago in Shenzhen when he defeated David Goffin, who was ranked 11th in the world at the time.
Murray, who received a wild card into this year’s tournament, will play compatriot Cameron Norrie in the second round.
