ATP Metz: Andy Murray fights Humbert through
The former world number one Andy Murray (ATP No. 113) has reached the second round at the ATP 250 tournament in Metz / France.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Sep 21, 2021, 09:58 pm
Murray had to do hard work at 4: 6, 6: 3 and 6: 2, but celebrated an important victory on the arduous comeback path against the local hero, who was ranked 26th in the world.
A weak service game at the end of the first half put Murray behind, and did not take advantage of two opportunities for a direct rebreak. In the second set, after several attempts, he managed the decisive break to make it 5: 3, he then had to fend off a break ball on the way to equalizing the set.
In the decisive set, Murray quickly rushed to the 4-0 lead against the still knocked Humbert, a 15:40 in the penultimate and a 30:40 in the last service game he had to turn, the latter he did with a sensational backhand pass. In the end, he fired his 18th ace to victory - the best in 2021 based on the ranking of his opponents.
Andy Murray with a strong service performance
In general, Murray was strong on his own serve: he made 85 percent of his points when the first service came. However, both he and Humbert were weak in terms of their break chances: Murray used 3 of his 13 chances, Humbert only 1 of 7.
Murray said afterwards that he was repeatedly absent from the tour and no longer knows many players very well when it comes to tennis. "It is sometimes difficult to play against them and find a way to win." Murray had to undergo hip surgery in 2019 and practically ended his career, but the operation was so successful that he picked up the bat again. However, other construction sites have prevented regular gaming.
Murray meets Vasek Pospisil in round 2.
Lucky loser Philipp Kohlschreiber made it into the second round by midday after defeating Marco Cecchinato , while Jan-Lennard Struff lost to Mikael Ymer. Youngster Holger Vitus Rune caused an exclamation mark: The qualifier handed out glasses to Bernabe Zapata Miralles at 6-0, 6-0 - or as the French put it: a "bicyclette".