Andy Murray produced one among his finest performances in 2024 to ease beat former prime 10 participant David Goffin 6-3 6-2 and attain the second spherical of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
The 2009 champion within the desert was merely very good on function he made it by to a gathering with fifth seed Andrey Rublev on Friday.
After beginning the 2024 season 0-4, the 36-year-old has now gained every of his previous three first-round matches.
Murray, now ranked at No 61, by no means confronted a break level as he improved to 8-0 in opposition to Goffin, together with taking all 17 units they’ve performed in opposition to one another.
Sturdy serving was key to Murray’s newest victory, with the 36-year-old profitable 85 per cent (23-27) of his first-serve factors and never dealing with a break level within the match.
“For me it was the serve,” he mentioned. “That frees up quite a lot of the remainder of my sport. If you’re all the time having to struggle and work for factors by yourself serve, you are feeling extra below stress however at the moment I acquired quite a lot of free factors off my serve.
“That freed me up in the return games and I was able to strike the ball well from the back of the court, defended well when I had to. An all-around solid performance.”
In a nip-and-tuck first set, Murray needed to be affected person after a break level in Goffin’s opening service sport was held earlier than he was in a position to strike when 4-3 up.
Murray claimed his first break of the match within the eighth sport and despatched down two aces to seal a 34-minute opener the place he gained the ultimate 10 factors.
The momentum was with the British No 4 now and a double-fault by Goffin handed him an early benefit within the second set.
Murray continued to ask questions of Goffin’s serve and a second break arrived to place him on the verge of a spot within the last-64, which was sealed with an ace.
Tim Henman on Murray the perfectionist
“Murray wanted to bully Goffin. He wanted to take the ball on, and he did that and kept the error count down. To win in such convincing style is a great start.
“You wish to see him out on court docket having fun with himself. He’s a perfectionist however that hasn’t been occurring for him lately.”
Laura Robson: He was able to play tactically well
“He was a bit extra relaxed concerning the state of affairs, however he was in a position to play tactically properly fairly than get aggravated with himself. It was nice to look at.”
Disappointing exit for Draper
Jack Draper suffered disappointment in California as he misplaced in three units to Chris O’Connell within the first spherical.
British prospect Draper had made the final 16 of the event in 2023 however misplaced six video games in a row within the remaining set to go down 1-6 6-3 6-2 to his Australian opponent.
It continued a irritating interval for Draper, who made the semi-finals of the Mexican Open final week however needed to retire throughout his last-four conflict with eventual champion Alex de Minaur.
Draper initially confirmed no ill-effects after he had battled meals poisoning in Acapulco and finally edged a prolonged fourth sport to go 3-1 up earlier than he saved quite a lot of break factors to consolidate his benefit.
One other break adopted to permit the world No 37 to take the opener 6-1 however he despatched down two double faults in the beginning of the second handy O’Connell the initiative.
The Aussie didn’t look again and compelled a decider, which began with Draper saving 4 break factors earlier than he broke to go 2-0 up.
Draper ran out of gasoline although, with world No 66 O’Connell reserving a second-round assembly with Alexander Zverev.
What’s occurring in Indian Wells on Thursday?
Former US Open champion Emma Raducanu takes on Swiss-born Spanish world No 96 Rebeka Masarova within the first spherical of the unofficial fifth Grand Slam at 7pm UK time on Sky Sports activities Tennis.
Masarova is 2-6 for 2024 and he or she beat Britain’s Heather Watson in qualifying.
Raducanu, who has been working with childhood coach Nick Cavaday, says engaged on her sport fairly than profitable matches is the precedence this 12 months.
The 21-year-old, who reached the fourth spherical within the Californian desert final 12 months, has been coaching at residence in London for the final couple of weeks, and he or she mentioned: “I want to work on becoming a better tennis player.
“I believe for me I am not too involved about this 12 months’s tournaments. Lots of people on the market would say that I want matches, however I believe that for me I wish to work on my sport and growth.
“Taking time to do that is very necessary and not just following the crowd, or playing a lot of matches, or dropping down (below the WTA Tour) to do that. I want to work on developing skills.”
Dan Evans, Naomi Osaka and Rafael Nadal are additionally in motion on day two of motion within the Californian desert.
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