Andy Murray had not played a match in 342 days. Nick Kyrgios is Nick Kyrgios. What could possibly go wrong?
Tuesday’s first-round showdown at the Fever-Tree Championships between Murray and Kyrgios was predictably bizarre, but what it lacked in quality in made up for in drama and entertainment as the Australian eventually silenced an engaged British crowd with a 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory.
Sidelined by a hip injury since reaching the Wimbledon quarterfinals last summer, Murray made a quick start in his comeback. The three-time Grand Slam champion was helped by the fact that Kyrgios came out in typical fashion–reeling both mentally and physically–and Murray made the most of his opportunity by breaking serve at 3-2 and 5-2. Whereas the Scot produced solid tennis, the 23-year-old was in borderline exhibition mode.
Both players appeared to be struggling by the midway point of set two, Kyrgios with a knee issue and Murray feeling his lower back. Neither one seemed to be too interested in going three, but Kyrgios somehow found the will to battle through the second set and force a decider.
In the third, Murray competed hard but was always on the defensive. The world No. 156 saved the first five break points he faced–including two match points at 4-5–while generating only one such opportunity of his own. Murray finally cracked while serving to stay alive a second time at 5-6, ultimately double-faulting on match point No. 3.
Highlights:
“He returns unbelievable,” Kyrgios said of his opponent. “Everything is the same, really. He’s just got to get matches under his belt. It was great to see him back and see him healthy…. Obviously there was a lot of thoughts going out there. I’m happy I pulled it through.”
“The expectations are going to rise on Andy Murray after this performance,” former Great Britain Davis Cup captain John Lloyd assessed. “He still has a bit of work to do, but for a first match back it was remarkable. The first set looked like a normal first set. He made a few errors and in the third he played well. It was an extraordinary performance considering he has been out for nearly a year.”
As for Kyrgios, he advances to meet Kyle Edmund during second-round action on Thursday.
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encouraging stuff from Andrew
good job despite the loss, Sir Andy!