During a difficult season with few victories, Andy Murray’s determination paid off in a tough first-round match at the Miami Open, where he fought back after losing the first set to defeat Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Murray’s win was his fourth of the year, and he will now face the 29th seeded Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the second round. Etcheverry had defeated Murray in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open.
For over an hour, Berrettini dominated his opponent through his exceptional serving, dominating his forehand and continuously using drop shots to put pressure on Murray and win the first set. However, Murray stayed determined and in the second set, he was able to hit his serves accurately and anticipate Berrettini’s serves more effectively. He successfully broke Berrettini’s serve for the first time and took the lead 4-2 in the second set.
While down 2-5 and getting ready to serve on the baseline, Berrettini stumbled to his right and almost fell due to feeling dizzy. Despite being checked by medical personnel, he was unable to regain his earlier level of performance.
Even though his opponent was not feeling well, Murray still struggled during the match and criticized himself in the final set. However, Berrettini also fought back admirably towards the end. In the end, the British player managed to hold on and secure the win. Afterward, at 36 years old, he confidently signed the TV camera lens, proving that he still has plenty of life left in him. “There’s still fight in this old dog!” he declared.
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Laura Robson of Sky Sports Tennis asked Murray about his habit of being self-critical during matches, which was evident during his match on Wednesday when he could be heard laughing in a comedic manner after making mistakes. Murray responded by saying that laughing or shouting during a match is not acceptable, and neither is being too subdued as he was during his recent matches in Australia.
“It is difficult for me to find the right balance. My demeanor on the court is quite distinct. I am not a mechanical being, rather I have my quirks and quirks make me who I am. However, I find that I perform at my best when I embrace them.”
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Murray rejoiced in a crucial victory, but Berrettini’s struggles persist. With several injuries in the past two years, he was absent from the tour for seven months due to a recurring abdominal injury in the previous year. He briefly dropped out of the top 150 this month, but made a comeback last week by competing in the final of an ATP Challenger event in Phoenix.
On Wednesday, Jack Draper dominated Taro Daniel of Japan in two decisive sets to advance to round two with an impressive 6-3, 6-2 victory.
Source: theguardian.com
