World number four Andy Murray got off to a slow start but booked his second-round berth at the US Open on Wednesday with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 6-3 victory over India’s Somdev Devvarman.
Murray needed more than an hour to secure the first set agianst Devvarman, but needed little more than that to wrap up the next two sets and get his bid for a first Grand Slam title on track.
Since reaching the final here in 2008, Murray has failed to make the quarter-finals the past two years, a trend he’s hoping to reverse.
After surrendering an early break in the opening set Murray managed to force the tiebreaker and from there grind out the win.
In more encouraging news from a Murray perspective, potential quarter final opponent Robin Soderling has withdrawn from the tournament due to illness – though the Scot will hope to avoid the bugs that seem to be striking down players left, right and centre.
“I was a bit nervous at the start and I think that showed,” Murray told the BBC.
“I started a bit slow but I’m sure I’ll get better as the tournament goes on. (Haase) will be a tough match, he gave Nadal a tough game at Wimbledon a few years back.
“He’s tough so I’ll have to be ready.”
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