US Open 2022 LIVE: Andy Murray beats Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets to reach second round
The Brit plays his first-round match 10 years on from winning his maiden grand slam title at Flushing Meadows
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Your support makes all the difference.Andy Murray made a positive start to his US Open campaign with a straight-sets victory over 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo in New York.
The 35-year-old went into the tournament having only won one match on the North American hard courts this season and with concerns over persistent cramping but this proved to be a relatively straightforward outing in humid conditions.
Argentinian Cerundolo has won the majority of his ranking points on clay and Murray had to grind his way through plenty of long rallies on his way to a 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory, with the only real negative a failure to serve out all three sets.
Andy Murray sweeps past 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo in US Open first round
We leave you with the full report from New York as Murray goes through to the second round:
Andy Murray sweeps past 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo in US Open first round
The former champion claimed a 7-5 6-3 6-3 win on Louis Armstrong Stadium
Andy Murray into the second round
Next up for Murray will be either Australia’s John Millman or the 20-year-old American Emilio Nava.
Andy Murray speaks
“It felt like five sets to me! It was very tricky conditions out here, very humid, I had to play well against a player who has had a great season.”
He says it’s great to have Ivan Lendl in the box supporting him, after being asked about their exchange of glances and comments during the match.
On the 10-year anniversary of his 2012 US Open victory, Murray says: “It seems a long time ago, it was a huge moment for me getting my first grand slam.”
Game, set, match! Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 Francisco Cerundolo
Andy Murray sweeps through the game to seal the deal, and shares a long chat with Cerundolo at the net, presumably offering some encouraging words to a young player with plenty more to offer in the future.
Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 5-3 *Francisco Cerundolo
Andy Murray looks a little bothered by the sun which is now streaming into his eyes as he serves. He loses the first two points of the game meekly before firing back with a powerful forehand down the line to get to 15-30. An excellent serve sets up a simple winner to make it 30-all, but Cerundolo then wins an entertaining rally to earn a break point, and sees it out, too, to break.
*Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 5-2 Francisco Cerundolo
Cerundolo fights well, getting to the net and volleying a winner to bring up 30-all before Murray slices a backhand into the net, and another error from the former US Open champion gives his opponent one more game on the board. Murray will serve for the match.
*denotes next to serve.
Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 5-1 *Francisco Cerundolo
Murray gets to 40-30 before a Cerundolo error cedes the game, and the Argentine will serve to stay in the match.
*denotes next to serve.
*Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 4-1 Francisco Cerundolo
The pair exchange a long series of backhands before Murray drags one wide to gift Cerundolo the first point on his serve. Murray makes an almost identical mistake a moment later as Cerundolo moves to 30-15, and eventually they muddle their way to deuce with some fairly uninspiring stuff, before Cerundolo swings wildly at a forehand which goes long, to give up another break.
*denotes next to serve.
Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 3-1 *Francisco Cerundolo
Murray wastes no time rushing through his own service game to preserve his single break advantage in the third.
*denotes next to serve.
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