Andy Murray marked his 1,000th tour match with a first-round 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win in opposition to Australia’s Alexei Popyrin on the ATP Queen’s Membership Championships on Tuesday, in what his prone to be his final look on the match.
In February, the three-time Grand Slam champion had solid doubts over persevering with to play past this summer season. He was named in Nice Britain’s group for the Olympics however stated his involvement on the Video games is contingent on how his physique holds up over the “subsequent few weeks.”
In anticipation of his probably farewell from the sport, the All England Garden Tennis Membership have additionally revealed plans to honour Murray this 12 months at Wimbledon, the place he is set to play doubles along with his brother, Jamie.
Following his first-round exit from the Stuttgart Open earlier within the month, Murray earned his first win of the grass-court season on Tuesday after a hard-fought encounter with Popyrin.
The Australian, who broke into the highest 50 for the primary time this 12 months, struggled for rhythm within the first set, committing 9 unforced errors to cede the set 6-3 to Murray.
However Popyrin did effectively to regain his composure and took the second set after breaking the Brit on the first time of asking. Murray hardly ever regarded comfy by the match, seemingly troubled by a minor grievance.
However roared on by a sellout crowd, Murray bounced again. The momentum shifted again in his favour within the third recreation of the deciding set, after an excellent cross-court move noticed him acquire benefit after which finally break Popyrin.
The 37-year-old held his serve, held his nerve and finally secured passage to the second spherical of the match he is gained 5 instances.
“I did not realise; my mum instructed me it is my 1,000th match on tour. Numerous matches and lots of put on and tear on the physique. It isn’t simple, however I am pushing by it,” Murray stated after the sport.
“I have not gotten too many wins this 12 months. It has been a troublesome season, however I did effectively to return by ultimately.
“Any win you may get is vital, that is why we’re enjoying. To try to win matches. With Wimbledon a couple of weeks away, I need to try to construct up confidence and get some matches in my legs.”
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British No.1 Jack Draper, who gained his first title on the Stuttgart Open final Sunday, started the match with a 6-3, 6-2 win in opposition to Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
Dan Evans was compelled to retire halfway by his first-round match in opposition to Brandon Nakashima due to damage.
Evans went down screaming following a slip in the back of the court docket. After a prolonged break for remedy, he was compelled to withdraw from the sport.
The 34-year-old subsequently pulled out of the doubles occasion at Queen’s, the place he was set to associate Murray, and his involvement at Wimbledon and the Olympics is now in danger.
On the Birmingham Open, Katie Boulter was compelled to retire throughout her first-round recreation in opposition to Anhelina Kalinina resulting from sickness. Caroline Wozniacki made her return to grass-court motion on the identical match, however suffered a 6-4, 6-1 loss to Belgian fifth seed Elise Mertens.
Amelia Rajecki and Heather Watson have been knocked out of their first spherical matches whereas Britain No. 2 Harriet Dart gained her opening match in opposition to Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima 6-3, 6-3.
