During a competitive period with few victories, Andy Murray demonstrated his determination in a tough opening match at the Miami Open by bouncing back from losing the first set to defeat Matteo Berrettini 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Murray’s win was his fourth of the year and now he will face the 29th seed, Tomás Martín Etcheverry, in the second round. Etcheverry previously defeated Murray in straight sets in the first round of the Australian Open.
Berrettini exhibited superior performance for over 60 minutes, dominating his rival with his exceptional serving, demolishing his forehand and consistently surprising Murray with drop shots as he claimed the initial set. However, Murray persevered and in the beginning of the second set, he started to hit his targets with his serve and effectively anticipate Berrettini’s deliveries. He achieved his first break of Berrettini’s serve and gained a 4-2 lead in the set.
While behind 2-5, Berrettini was getting ready to serve from the baseline when he suddenly lost his equilibrium. He stumbled to the right and almost tumbled down, then complained of feeling dizzy. The doctor and physio promptly attended to him, but even though he was deemed fit to continue playing, he was unable to replicate his previous level of performance.
Despite Murray’s challenges against an injured opponent, he continuously criticized his own performance in the final set. However, Berrettini displayed resilience towards the end. The British player managed to hold on and secure the win. Following the match, the 36-year-old confidently signed the TV camera lens, proclaiming “There’s still life in this old dog!”
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During an interview with Sky Sports Tennis reporter Laura Robson, Murray was questioned about his habit of being hard on himself during matches. This was highlighted by his behavior on Wednesday, where he would loudly laugh in a humorous manner after making a mistake. Responding to the question, Murray stated that neither laughing nor shouting on the court were acceptable behaviors for him. Additionally, he mentioned that playing in a lackluster manner, as he did during the Australian Open, was also not acceptable to him.
“It can be challenging for me to find the right balance. I have a unique style on the court and I am not a machine. I may seem unconventional or eccentric, but it actually helps me play better.”
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Murray celebrated a crucial victory, but Berrettini’s struggles persist. Due to several injuries in the past two years, he was absent from the tour for seven months due to a recurring abdominal injury. After briefly dropping out of the top 150, Berrettini made his return to competition last week, making it to the final of an ATP Challenger tournament in Phoenix.
Jack Draper dominated Taro Daniel of Japan on Wednesday, winning in two decisive sets and advancing to the second round with a impressive 6-3, 6-2 victory.
