US Edition
Andy Murray wins and then scrawls message to doubters on TV camera
Scot now faces Tomás Martín Etcheverry, who knocked him out in the Australian Open, in the next round
Andy Murray defeated Italy’s Matteo Berrettini to progress to the second round of the Miami Open, then wrote the words “life in the old dog yet” on the courtside camera.
During the peak of his career, Murray used to own a flat in Miami, and would routinely train there to improve his warm-weather performance. His performance against Berrettini was not quite up to the standard of those glory years, but he showed typical grit to close out a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 comeback win in 2hr 49min.
Berrettini made a fast start, using the drop shot frequently, and bossing play with his heavy forehand. But he then needed medical treatment towards the end of the second set after experiencing a dizzy spell.
There was a worrying moment between points when Berrettini started wobbling along the baseline, put his hand over his face, and nearly fell. It felt reminiscent of the even more alarming faint that France’s Arthur Cazaux had suffered on Monday in Miami’s extreme heat.
To Berrettini’s great credit, he struggled on, and continued to keep the scoreline close with his mighty serve. Murray needed to stay strong throughout the deciding set, coming back from 0-40 in his penultimate service game, but he eventually finished the job with a trademark backhand winner up the line.
The victory sends Murray on to face Tomás Martín Etcheverry, the Argentine player who delivered one of his most demoralising defeats at January’s Australian Open. He will be extremely motivated to prove that he has improved since that grim day, when he lacked any sense of energy in a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat.
Afterwards, Sky Sports pundit Laura Robson asked Murray about the sarcastic laughter that he kept emitting whenever he made an unforced error. “You were saying that I need to be happier on court in the interview before the match,” Murray replied. “If I’m laughing that’s not okay. If I’m shouting that’s not okay. If I’m flat, like I was in Australia, that’s not okay
“It’s very hard for me to get the balance right. I’m very different on the tennis court. I’m not a robot. I’m a bit odd, a bit strange, but I play better when I am like that.”