After three years of frustration and false starts, Andy Murray made an emotional return to singles action at Queen’s Club. Murray, a five-time champion in West Kensington, looked confident and capable in his first competitive outing since suffering a groin injury in March, coming through 6-3, 6-2 against Benoît Paire of France.
It was a small but significant step for the former Wimbledon champion, and it clearly meant the world to him. Murray, who has suffered repeated setbacks and niggles since having his hip resurfaced two and a half years ago, said afterwards that he has learned to treat every match as though it might be his last.
“I’m always sort of telling myself, and maybe it’s not the best mindset, but each match could be my last one that I play now,” said Murray. “I want to make the most of every match that I play and each tournament that I get the chance to compete in.”
His enduring passion for the sport was similarly evident when he was earlier asked at courtside how it felt to be competing again. “I love it, I love playing tennis,” said Murray, briefly overwhelmed with emotion.
There was a nervous moment for Murray in the third game when his right leg gave way as he attempted to set off in pursuit of a Paire backhand. The Scot clambered gingerly to his feet along the baseline, but any fears that he may have further aggravated his groin were quickly allayed. Murray broke to love in the next game, scrambling to play a vintage running forehand pass, and stayed solid on serve to see out the set.
The 46th-ranked Paire, an unorthodox and often volatile character with a fine backhand and excellent touch, is capable of brilliance. But the Frenchman has struggled to cope with a life of empty stadiums and bio-secure bubbles, and has barely won a match all year. He was thus the perfect opponent for Murray, who broke in the fifth game of the second set and had only to keep the ball in play from there, as Paire became increasingly disinterested. Murray will now face a sterner test in the shape of Matteo Berrettini, the top seed and world No 9.
“Berrettini is obviously a top player, top seed here, and had a very strong French Open,” said Murray. “I need to play one level up from today if I want to do well.”
There was more good news for Britain as Dan Evans made an assured start to the grass-court season with a 6-4, 6-4 win over world No 67 Alexei Popyrin. “It was great to be back,” said the 25th-ranked Evans, seeded sixth.
“It was a great atmosphere. Good to be back after so long on the grass in front of a very nice crowd. We’re not full, but we’re getting there.”