METZ, FRANCE (AFP) - Former world number one Andy Murray reached his first ATP quarter-final of the season on Wednesday (Sept 22) with a straight sets win over Canada's Vasek Pospisil at the Moselle Open. Murray, now ranked at 113, swept to a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory and will face either top seeded Hubert Hurkacz of Poland or French player Lucas Pouille for a place in the semi-finals. The 34-year-old Murray, who has undergone two hip surgeries in the last three years, broke the 66th-ranked Pospisil four times in his one-hour, 24-minute triumph to claim a fifth win in six meetings against the Canadian. On Tuesday, Murray had defeated France's 26th-ranked Ugo Humbert 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the first round. "This period has been the most tournaments I've played recently and my body feels good and I'm starting to gain just a little bit of confidence with each match," three-time Grand Slam title winner Murray told atptour.com. "There have been times in the past year where I've been a little bit confused and not seeing how the points are developing which for me was always a strong part of my game and it made me feel quite uncomfortable on the court when I was feeling that way. "I'm starting to get that back and the results are coming and my tennis is getting better." Meanwhile, Pouille defeated another Canadian, Brayden Schnur 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Germany's Peter Gojowczyk, who made the fourth round of the US Open as a qualifier, beat French lucky loser Antoine Hoang 6-2, 3-6, 6-4. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Andy Murray exits Rennes Challenger in second round Related Story Tennis: Murray 'lost respect' for Tsitsipas over delay 'nonsense' at US Open
NEW YORK (REUTERS) - Former champion Andy Murray has been added to the main draw of the US Open following the withdrawal of Swiss Stan Wawrinka, tournament organisers said on Monday (Aug 9). Murray, who had hip surgeries in 2018 and 2019, has only played a handful of ATP Tour-level events this year having missed the Australian Open because of a positive Covid-19 test and opting out of competing at the French Open. The 34-year-old Murray reached the third round at Wimbledon but withdrew from the men's singles tournament at the Tokyo Olympics on the advice of his medical team, dashing his hopes for a third consecutive gold medal. Murray, who won the first of his three career Grand Slam titles at the 2012 US Open, did represent Britain in the men's doubles event in Tokyo where he lost in the quarter-finals. At last year's US Open, Murray suffered a straight-sets loss in the second round to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime. Wawrinka, who captured the last of his three career Grand Slam titles at the 2016 US Open, withdrew as he continues to recover from foot surgery. The 36-year-old former world number three underwent an operation on his left foot this year and has not played on the tour since an opening round defeat at the Qatar Open in March. The US Open runs from Aug 30-Sept 12. More on this topic Related Story Olympics: Defending champion Andy Murray out of Olympics singles with injury Related Story Tennis: Murray, Korda given wildcards into ATP Cincinnati Masters
LONDON (REUTERS) - Twice champion Andy Murray survived a third-set meltdown to beat Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4 6-3 5-7 6-3 on Monday in his first singles match at Wimbledon for four years. Back on the hallowed Centre Court turf on which he became a British sporting icon, the 34-year-old delighted his fans as he rolled back the years, producing vintage shot-making to lead by two sets and 5-0 in the third. Basilashvili, the 24th seed, looked down and out but the drama had only just begun as Murray tightened up and his lead began to shrink. Initially, it looked like being only a glitch but when two match points went begging as Basilashvili served at 3-5, Murray began to resemble a man with his arm set in concrete. Tension filled the air as the crowd tried to lift the former world number one who lost seven successive games to send the match into a fourth set. Basilashvili had recovered from two sets down to beat Britain's James Ward in the first round in 2019 and with nagging doubts about Murray's physical condition after playing only a handful of top-level matches this year a repeat looked possible. With darkness descending over the All England Club, the players left the court while the sliding roof was closed and lights switched on to enable the match to be completed. The interruption had a rejuvenating effect on Murray who returned to break serve to love in the first game of the fourth. Basilashvili broke back immediately with a piercing backhand down the line but then dropped his serve to love again. Murray had chances for a 4-1 lead in the fourth but Basilashvili dug in to stay in touch and the Georgian then had a break point to get back to 4-4. But Murray saved that with a delicate drop shot and pushed hard to win the match on Basilashvili's next service game. Basilashvili saved a third match point with a sweet winner but at the fourth time of asking Murray got the job done when his opponent sent a backhand into the net. More on this topic Related Story Tennis: Murray to miss Dubai after birth of fourth child Related Story Tennis: Andy Murray pulls out of Miami Open with groin injury