Andy Murray stormed into the second round of the US Open with a superb straight-sets victory over 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo on the opening day at Flushing Meadows.
The former world number one, who won the first Grand Slam of his career in New York 10 years ago, broke serve seven times and capitalised on 46 unforced errors from the Argentine in a 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory.
Murray edged a fiercely-fought 65-minute long opening set and took that momentum into the second, racing into a 5-0 lead before needing a second service game to successfully serve it out.
He then started fast in the third to go 5-1 up before suffering a wobble as his serve was broken.
But he broke back to take the match in style and record his first straight-sets win at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2017.
“It felt like five sets to me.
“Very tricky conditions today, humid and hot, but I was really happy with the way I got through that one.
“It wasn’t easy, he’s had a brilliant year and I knew I would need to play well, but I did in the important moments,” Murray said after the game.
Murray, who hasn’t made it past the second round in New York since making the quarter-finals in 2016, will face American Emilio Nava in the second round after he beat John Millman.
The 35-year-old’s preparation for the final Grand Slam event of the season had been overshadowed by issues with cramp in matches during the hard-court swing in North America.
But he managed to grind down an opponent 11 years his younger in Louis Armstrong Stadium despite showing signs of discomfort in the third set.
“I thought I did well considering that, mentally.
“It’s not easy going into a five-set match in those conditions against a guy that makes you move a lot with what’s happened recently.
“It’s important to give myself a pat on the back with that stuff because it’s rare that anyone else does,” Murray told reporters.
Things got off to an inauspicious start for the former champion, however, as Cerundolo won four points in a row to break Murray in the opening game.
But the Scot showed plenty of trademark determination to break back immediately, as the opening two games lasted a gruelling 15 minutes.
Murray held twice either side of another break to win three games in a row, moving well as he played solid tennis.
But after a hold apiece, the veteran couldn’t finish the job as Cerundolo broke back unexpectedly following a string of unforced errors from his opponent.
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