Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron LIVE: Latest updates from Stuttgart Open as Wimbledon preparation begins
Murray is back on court after early exits in the singles and doubles at the French Open
Andy Murray begins his grass court season at the Stuttgart Open as he kicks off his grass court season with an eye on performing strongly at Wimbledon.
Murray’s Wimbledon preparation could also be the start of a farewell as he has previously hinted at a possible retirement this summer meaning this could be his final season as a professional.
Today’s match is against Marcos Giron who will be a tough opponent for the 37-year-old with the American having climbed into the world’s top 50 this year.
Elsewhere, Emma Raducanu will be in action at the Nottingham Open. Raducanu missed the French Open to focus on her fitness ahead of the grass court season. She takes on Ena Shibahara as she continues her comeback following wrist and ankle operations last year.
Follow all the live action from Stuttgart and Nottingham in the blog below:
Emma Raducanu 2-0 Ena Shibahara
Forced onto the second serve, it’s Shibahara who will take the first point of the Brit’s service game, but she levels things up next opportunity when the return goes straight into the net.
Raducanu recovers two break points down to take the game to deuce, and the Brit takes the advantage, and takes the second game with an ace.
Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron
Murray’s match against Giron will be played on centre court at the Stuttgart Open but before they start Roman Safiullin and Matteo Berrettini need to finish their encounter.
They are level 1-1 in terms of sets with Berrettini taking the first 7-6 following a tie break and Safiullin winning the second 7-5. Murray is now expected on court closer to 3pm.
Emma Raducanu 1-0 Ena Shibahara - BREAK
She serves just in and Raducanu sends her responding backhand straight into the net. There are no reviews in this tournament so it is all down to the line judges.
The following point goes in favour of the Brit, she takes her chance with a forehand across the court, 15-15.
Shibahara has missed a volley and a chance to go ahead, instead it’s Raducanu who takes the chance to make it 15-30, but the next one the Japanese player does get right to level the game.
Raducanu forces a break point, which she takes with a perfect lob to get off to the ideal start in front of a home crowd.
Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara
The warm up is done, and the match is about to get underway. There is just enough time for one final drink before Shibahara serves first in the match.
Emma Raducanu vs Ena Shibahara
Raducanu might not have played on grass since 2022, and she dropped out of the French Open and the clay season to focus on grass in the build up to Wimbledon.
The players are out on cour and the match is about to get underway.
Game, set, match Evans
Dan Evans has won his match against Stricker, that is a big win, his seventh of the season, but he has not won any title since 2022.
Stricker had a back injury and this was only his second singles match this year, but he has gone out of the tournament in Nottingham.
Dan Evans vs Dominic Stricker
Stricker has come back on to the court but the injury is still clearly affecting him.
Evans has just broken in the final set and is about to serve for the match.
Andy Murray vs Marcos Giron
This first round match is the third scheduled on centre court in Stuttgart. It is due to start around 2.15pm BST.
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch action from the Stuttgart Open live on Sky Sports Tennis, the British broadcast home of the ATP and WTA Tours. A livestream will be available via Sky Go.
Watson on reaching Paris Olympics
“My biggest goal in the last 12 months was to play in my fourth Olympics in Paris,” Heather Watson told the PA news agency, “So I put a big push on doubles in the last 12 months. I started off playing every week.
“It was after Wimbledon where I set that goal for myself because I just wanted to give it a good old go. Hopefully I am able to go and play doubles with Katie Boulter and mixed doubles with Joe Salisbury. That has been my main focus.
“I don’t know whether we have made it or not but now, whether we make it or not, I am going to focus on my singles because I have sacrificed it for the past 12 months.
“I want to get that back and I need to set new goals now. I am in a different place in my career and my life. London 2012 was one of the best experiences of my life. It is an honour to be at such an amazing event like that.”
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