Murray defeats Cerundolo to advance at US Open

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Andy Murray’s work ethic has long been second to none. Blood, sweat and tears pretty much sums up the career of a man whose unrelenting dedication earned him three grand slam titles and the world No 1 ranking before his right hip gave way five years ago. The past week, though, has been more a matter of blood and sweat tests for Murray, whose struggles with cramp over the North American hard-court swing prompted him to seek medical advice. 

The good news for the Scot, as he prepared to open his US Open campaign against Francisco Cerundolo, was that nothing untoward was ffound. The bad news was that he remained none the wiser about the source of the problems he experienced against Mikael Ymer in Washington, and which recurred when he played Stan Wawrinka and Cameron Norrie in Cincinnati. 

It was not ideal preparation for a first meeting with Cerundolo, a 24-year-old Argentinian, seeded 24th, whose weighty forehand and battling spirit earned him a set against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon. In the hot, humid environs of Louis Armstrong Stadium, facing an opponent 12 years his junior, an efficient, focused performance promised to be key for Murray.

For the most part, that is what he produced. But the Scot has rarely been one to make life overly easy for himself, and an opening game in which he led 40-15 before falling behind to an early break set the tone for a contest in which Cerúndolo repeatedly stalled Murray’s progress just as he looked set to disappear over the horizon. 

Murray failed to serve out all three sets at the first time of asking, yet he allowed himself the latitude for those lapses by establishing a commanding lead in each. As he won games in blocks – four in succession in the first set, five in the second, three in the third – Murray created the platform for a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 victory that marked an impressive return against a top-30 player who, infused with belief after his performance against Nadal, won the first title of his career in Bastad last month. 

“That felt like five sets to me,” smiled Murray at courtside after his first straight-sets win at a major for five years. “It was very tricky conditions, very humid and hot. I was really happy with the way I got through that one, it was not easy. He’s had a brilliant year this year, and I knew I was going to have to play well, and I did in the important moments.”

It was a fair summation from Murray, who struck an ideal balance between patience and aggression, keeping Cerundolo at bay with his depth and variety to deny the Argentinian the heavy-hitting baseline rhythm on which he thrives. 

A key moment came when Cerundolo, serving to stay in the opener at 4-5, raced forward to retrieve a drop volley, steering the ball down the line to set up an easy overhead – but only after the ball had bounced twice. The umpire failed to spot the transgression, but when the point was replayed on the screens above the court, it became clear that Murray’s dismay was justified. Sportingly, Cerundolo conceded the point, a gesture for which Murray thanked his opponent at the end.

“What he did was brilliant, and I don’t think that loads of players on the tour would have done that,” said Murray. “Fair play to him, and I said that to him at the net. You know, he didn’t have to do that.  

“I think in those situations it’s sometimes difficult for the player who picks the ball up to know exactly, but the player who is receiving the ball, they know almost immediately. The ball, when it comes with topspin in those situations, it’s almost always because there has been a double bounce or the ball has been hit into the court, creating the topspin.”

Murray, who won his first grand slam title at Flushing Meadows a decade ago, will face Emilio Nava, a 20-year-old American wild card, in round two. 

Stan Wawrinka, another former champion, was forced to pull out of his match against Corentin Moutet of France while trailing 6-4, 7-6 (9-7).

“Tough two sets for me,” said Wawrinka, who had treatment for a finger problem. “I wasn’t playing the way I wanted. I was struggling a bit, and had to stop the match.”

Daniil Medvedev, the world No 1, opened his title defence with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 win over Stefan Kozlov of the US.