Andy Murray fought off a tough customer in Corentin Moutet, working for three hours for a straight-set win against the feisty Frenchman for a place in the US Open second round on Tuesday.
The veteran Scot who won the title here in 2012, produced a 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 victory, which he ended on a third match point.
“It was amazing, a brilliant atmosphere,” the No. 37 said of what he called his best match since undergoing hip replacement surgery more than half a decade ago.
“Moutet is one of the most skillful players and has many ways to disrupt you; he always causes a little bit of chaos.”
The Frenchman was momentarily annoyed when he was called late in the third set on a return not up – but which the computerised line-calling system failed to pick up due to an electronic gremlin.
“I’m happy to get through in straight sets,” former No. 1 Murray said. “It was a very tight match but I’m happy it only took three hours – it was shorter than a lot of my matches this season.”
Murray pulled out of the final big warmup event at Cincinnati over abdominal fitness concerns but said he is feeling good with his game as he plays at his highest ranking since injury dramas surfaced in 2017.
“Preparation was tricky, I had to build up my serving slowly.”I’m on my highest ranking since getting my metal hip and I’m happy to still be going.”
Third-seeded 2021 champion Daniil Medvedev began his campaign with the loss of just two games against outclassed Hungarian Attila Balazs, winning 6-1, 6-1, 6-0.
Medvedev has won four of his five titles this season on hardcourt and now stands 33-5 on his favourite surface this season.
“It’s always good to start well, I’m happy with my performance,” the winner said.
“I’m looking forward to the next matches and playing for as long as possible in New York.
“I hope I can play better and better each match but each one is going to be more difficult.”
Medvedev ended with 13 unforced errors and never faced a break point in his comprehensive first-round victory.
He next plays Christopher O’Connell, who defeated fellow Australian Max Purcell 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5)..
The 34-year-old Balazs no longer has a ranking due to injury but is playing here with a protected ranking of 101.d ranking of No. 101.
Medvedev called his 74-minute sweep “probably the fastest three-set match I’ve played.”
Karen Khachanov, seeded 11, went down 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to American wild card entry Michael Mohr.
Alexander Zverev, the 12th seed, who played the final here three years ago, began his 2023 progression 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, putting out Australian Aleksander Vukic.
The 16th seeded Cameron Norrie added a British win as he ended a four-match loss streak by winning his first since Wimbledon, 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 over Alexander Shevchenko.
“It was nice to get through that one straight sets,” Norrie said. “I played well in the big moments, served well.
“It was a lot of physical rallies, long points, and the courts were quite slow.
“It was I a good performance and overall I was moving solid, and I did everything pretty well.”
2019 semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini continued his long comeback from injury, advancing in his opening match 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 over Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
John Isner stayed alive at his 17th Open appearance as the American plays his farewell event.
The serving king beat Facundo Diaz-Acosta 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (1) to move to the second round
“It’s not goodbye yet, I’m still alive and I’m feeling pretty good,” Isner said at an on-court ceremony which felt at times like a retirement.
“I want to try and keep this things going for as long as I possibly can.”
The two-time quarter-finalist and the Armstrong court crowd were entertained by a tribute highlight reel of the American’s best moments at the Open over the years after the match.
Main photo:- Happy chappy! Andy Murray all smiles as he wins first round match in straight sets.
