Andy Murray dug deep to rally from one set down, beating Matteo Berrettini 4-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the second round at the Miami Open. Murray converted two of his eleven break points.
Murray and Berrettini met for the sixth time in their careers, but it was their first head-to-head clash since the 2023 Australian Open, when Murray won an epic five-set match. Berrettini, who reached the final of the Phoenix Challenger in his first tournament since the US Open last August, broke Murray in the first game of the opening set. Murray wasted a couple of break points and faced another break point in the next game. Murray managed to keep his deficit to just one break and Berrettini held on his next service games to close out the first set 6-4.
Murray earned his first break in the sixth game to open up a 4-2 lead. Berrettini started to struggle. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist complained of being dizzy. He stopped playing and called the physiotherapist, who took his blood pressure. The Italian player held serve at love but Murray served out the second set 6-4 on his second set point to force the match to a decider.
Murray converted his fourth break point in a 13-minute first game on the sixth deuce to take a 1-0 lead. Berrettini saved two more break points before earning two chances. Murray held on his next service games and serving out the win on his his first match point after 2 hours and 47 minutes.
Murray dropped just ten points on his first serve in the second and third sets.
Murray committed just 20 unforced errors to Berrettini’s 44 to earn his fourth consecutive first round win.
Murray levelled his head-to-head series against Berrettini to 3-3. The two-time Olympic champion set up a second round match against Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who beat the British player in two of their three head-to-head matches, including a straight-set win at the Australian Open last January.
“It was obviously a great win for me. I started off a little bit slow, but I think I played pretty well from the middle of the first set until the end of the match. I created a lot of opportunities and he was struggling for a little bit at the end of the second set and beginning of the third set. I capitalized on that and got off to a quick start in the third. I served it out well in the end. As soon as he went to slice, I was able to dictate the points with my forehand. I used the width of the court well and came forward when I had the opportunity ”, said Murray.
