Murray Makes Magic, Kyrgios, Medvedev Win; Nadal Back Thu At US Open

by Staff | September 1st, 2022, 1:10 am
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Murray Makes Magic, Kyrgios Wins; Nadal Back Thu At US Open

Andy Murray survived a tough 84 minute first set defeat to rebound and run away from 21-year-old Emilio Nava 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, 6-0 to advance to the third round a the US Open.

Murray, who won his very first Grand Slam title 10 years ago at the 2015 US Open, had to adjust after the first set.


“I think I started to take the ball on a little bit more,” said Murray. “He was dictating a lot of the points in the first set. Once I started to hit the ball a little bit bigger, a little bit deeper, I was then able to control the points more.

“He also played a really long first-round match, a five-setter against John Millman. I think that’s the first five-setter that he’s played, so it’s not always that easy to recover and I think his level dropped a little bit in the third and fourth sets. But he’s a brilliant young player and he’s going to have a very bright future.”

Murray, though, will have a huge step-up in the next round against Wimbledon semifinalist Matteo Berrettini. Berrettini advanced in four as well from a set down taking out lucky loser Hugo Grenier of France 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), 7-6(7) out on Grandstand.

“He’s had a bit of an unlucky year, to be honest,” said Murray looking ahead to the Italian. “I know he got Covid at the beginning of Wimbledon having just won Stuttgart and Queens back-to-back.

“I think it was a wrist injury he had so he missed pretty much the whole of the clay season as well this year, but when he has been on the court he’s done really, really well.

“We played in the Stuttgart final, a tough three-set match, so I’m expecting it to be really difficult, but if I play well and my return is on point then I’ve got a good chance.”

In a good battle of Americans, Tommy Paul took down Sebastian Korda in five sets 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in 3 hours, 18 minutes.

Jack Draper continued to show progress upsetting No. 6 seed and 2021 semifinalist Felix Auger Aliassime with ease 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Nick Kyrgios avoided a 0-40 serving hole late in the fourth to win the last nine points and deny Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(3), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

“It’s so stressful now because every match I play, I’m kind of expecting to play so good,” Kyrgios said. “Such a clean performance is not realistic in a sport like this where you’re playing day in, day out. I probably have to lower the expectation of playing like it’s a Wimbledon final every time. There are so many capable players who can play.”

Following Serena’s big win, Daniil Medvedev continued his title defense with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-3 win over Arthur Rinderknech.

“It’s not so easy to play when you start at 10 p.m.,” said Medvedev. “I had some experience, so I was ready. I tried to find a way to play my best tennis. That’s for sure what happened in the first set. Arthur was a little bit slow, made some double faults and some unforced errors. Then I managed to keep the momentum going.”

Alex De Minaur, Casper Ruud, Karen Khachanov, JJ Wolf and Pablo Carreno Busta advanced. American story Brandon Holt fell from two sets up to Pedro Cachin in five sets.

Tomorrow, Rafael Nadal returns looking to go 21-0 in 2022 against former rival Fabio Fognini. Nadal leads 13-4 but Fognini did beat Rafa from two sets down at the US Open in 2015.

Carlos Alcaraz is also back on Ashe while Jannik Sinner against Chris Eubanks is the lone men’s singles on Armstrong.

John Isner withdrew due to a fractured wrist suffered during a fall in the first round. Holger Rune is through.

THURSDAY US OPEN SCHEDULE
Arthur Ashe Stadium, Day Session – 12:00 PM Start
Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] vs. Sloane Stephens (USA)
Federico Coria (ARG) vs. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [3]

7:00 PM Start
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) / Linda Noskova (CZE) vs. Serena Williams (USA) / Venus Williams (USA) (WC)
Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP) [2]

Louis Armstrong Stadium, Day Session – 11:00 AM Start
Aliaksandra Sasnovich (BLR) vs. Jessica Pegula (USA) [8]
Christopher Eubanks (USA) (Q) vs. Jannik Sinner (ITA) [11]
Garbine Muguruza (ESP) [9] vs. Linda Fruhvirtova (CZE) (Q)

7:00 PM Start
Cristina Bucsa (ESP) (Q) vs. Danielle Collins (USA) [19]
Hugo Gaston (FRA) / Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) / Nick Kyrgios (AUS) [8]


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