Andy Murray earned his biggest victory since last May as he knocked out world No. 30 Tomas Etcheverry at the Miami Open. The Brit came through 7-6(0) 6-3 to record two match wins at a single tournament for the first time since August. The match was rained off after just six games on Friday but that didn’t bother the former world No. 1, who had a strong day on serve when he returned on Saturday.
Murray and Etcheverry only managed to play 38 minutes on Friday before play was suspended for rain with things all square at 3-3 with both men saving a couple of break points. Returning to the court around 21 hours later, the 29th seed got things going with a simple hold.
The Brit found himself in some trouble while serving to stay in the opener as Etcheverry had a set point. But Murray ran his opponent around the court, pushing Etcheverry into the tramlines and finishing the rally with a winner to keep himself in it.
The set went to a tiebreak where Murray bulldozed through, not dropping a single point as he secured a marathon 80-minute first set 7-6(0). The world No 62 dominated on serve, dropping just eight points to the Argentine, and he carried on rolling through as he started the second set with a love hold.
The two-time Miami champion continued to apply pressure on the Etcheverry serve throughout the second set and was finally rewarded in the sixth game, earning the first break of the match. A fired-up Murray pumped his fist in the air as he put himself within two games of victory.
The No. 29 seed tried to get back in it and had a break point in the next game. Murray was unbothered by a time violation he received, firing down three aces to keep hold of his advantage. But he found himself in another tricky shot while serving for the match, going 0-40 down.
The world No. 62 painted the lines as he managed to dig himself out of trouble, reeling off five straight points to book his spot in the third round. Murray roared in delight as he got revenge for a tough defeat to Etcheverry at this year’s Australian Open, exclaiming “get in there” as he returned to his bench.
Murray was left disappointed with himself after a “flat” performance when he lost 6-4 6-2 6-2 in the first round of the Australian Open but he turned the tables on the Argentine in Miami. Etcheverry is the highest-ranked opponent that Murray has beaten since he downed then-world No. 17 Tommy Paul in the final of the Aix-en-Provence Challenger last May.
It’s also the first time that the 36-year-old has won back-to-back matches at a tournament since the Canadian Masters in August. Murray will now face Tomas Machac, the world No. 60 who stunned fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the second round.
They have already met once this year in Marseille, with the Czech star coming out on top. The Brit is also still alive in the doubles with Sebastian Korda. They face seventh seeds Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz on Sunday.
