Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka wrote one other chapter into their long-running rivalry on Monday on the Western & Southern Open, the place the Scot superior with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5 victory in Cincinnati.
The previous World No. 1 confirmed his combating qualities throughout the two-hour, 34-minute first-round match as he scampered across the baseline to hold in factors. He additionally brought about harm along with his backhand, whereas he rallied from a break down within the third set to enhance to 13-9 of their ATP Head2Head sequence.
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Following his epic two-hour and 54-minute win, the Scot now holds a 35-14 report in Cincinnati, having lifted the trophy in 2008 and 2011. The 35-year-old will look to style additional success on the hard-court occasion when he faces Cameron Norrie within the second spherical after the ninth seed edged #NextGenATP Dane Holger Rune 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4.
Murray arrived in Ohio off the again of a disappointing first-round exit in Montreal final week. Nonetheless, the 46-time tour-level champion has proven indicators of promise this season, reaching finals in Sydney and Stuttgart, serving to him rise again into the Prime 50 within the Pepperstone ATP Rankings for the primary time since 2018.
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In a good battle in Ohio, there was little to separate World No. 47 Murray and Wawrinka within the first set. The Scot persistently discovered depth on his watertight groundstrokes as he regarded to power the 37-year-old into errors, who mixed moments of magic with erratic play. After each remained sturdy on serve, a tie-break was left to determine the opener, with Murray clinching the set when Wawrinka fired a forehand lengthy.
Wawrinka refused to go away within the second set, although, and was rewarded for his attacking play within the eighth sport when he broke to steer 5-3. After failing to serve out the set, the three-time Grand Slam champion lastly levelled when he broke Murray once more within the twelfth sport.
With each gamers tiring in a bodily third set, it was Murray who discovered an additional gear regardless of receiving a number of medical timeouts. The Scot battled from 0-2 down as he stood near the baseline and stayed in rallies, ultimately breaking to steer 6-5 earlier than efficiently holding to triumph. Murray let loose a roar and raised his arms aloft when he sealed the match on his third match level
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Wawrinka was aiming to earn his first hard-court match win for the reason that 2021 Australian Open. The Swiss star was competing on the ATP Masters 1000 occasion for the thirteenth time, along with his finest outcome a run to the semi-finals in 2012.
In different motion, John Isner overcame Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 7-6(11), 3-6, 7-6(4). The American, who fired 31 aces, saved three set factors within the third set earlier than he ultimately booked his spot within the second spherical after two hours and 25 minutes.
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Isner will face Montreal finalist and doubles companion Hubert Hurkacz within the second spherical.
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