Andy Murray in the first round of the 2020 US Open, New York, USA
Andy Murray in the first round of the 2020 US Open, New York, USA | (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Tennis | US Open 2020 | Epic Murray challenges rising Auger-Aliassime

  • Andy Murray won from two sets down for an open era record tenth time beating Yoshihito Nishioka
  • He will face for the first time Felix Auger-Aliassime
  • The Canadian beat Thiago Monteiro after a topsy-turvy tussle
NEW YORK, USA – Andy Murray improved  his win-loss record to 46-12 at the US Open after an epic comeback victory. He will need all his energy to overcome Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round.

 

[table “ADPDAll” not found /]

 

Andy Murray d. Yoshihito Nishioka 4-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(4) 6-4

Andy Murray never fails to show his warrior spirit. He confirmed his never-say-die attitude that made Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka feel awed in the closing stages. As a consequence, he came back from two sets down for an Open era record tenth time.

The 2012 US Open champion finished the match comprehensibly exhausted, with his big toes on both sides pretty beat up. He struggled to walk properly, his shirt looked absolutely wringing, but that image of fortitude epitomised a Murray-style rollercoaster.

After losing the opening two sets, he went a break down in the third, saved a match point in the fourth, he was the also first to lose his serve in the decider. Eventually, being Murray was enough to confuse his less experienced opponent.

In the first two sets, Murray looked uncharacteristically flat and subdued, but gradually he began to spur himself and the match started to change.

“I had to start striking the ball a bit better. I was hitting the ball a bit late, a bit tentatively. I went the other way of trying to take too many chances and making errors. I didn’t have the balance right. At the end I started to get the balance. I had to change a few things for sure”

said Murray in his post-match interview, as the BBC reported.

He improved to 46-12 at the US Open. Murray came back, his hip is reasonably ok. Relieved, his mother showed her joy with the ultimate tweet.

Andy Murray v Felix Auger-Aliassime [15] | No H2H

Murray’s campaign will continue against Felix Auger-Aliassime who beat Brazilian Thiago Monteiro to seal his first ever US Open main draw victory.

Last year in New York, according to the tournament’s official website, he had a first serve accuracy of 64% and reached a 50% of winner off the backhand side, ranking 5th in the field.

This year, before the hiatus, he became the youngest player to reach finals in consecutive weeks since Djokovic, 19, at 2006 Amersfoort and Umag. He lost back-to-back title-matches, though, in Rotterdam and Marseille.

Against Monteiro, the No.15 seed registered 16 winners and 30 unforced errors with his massive forehand. He manage to vary the direction of his first serves from the ad-side, while on the ad-side he consistently recurred to out-wide deliveries.

He could use the same scheme to face the former World No.1, The real question, however, regards Murray’s fitness level and his fighting spirit. Will they be enough against a complete, dangerous up-and-comer like the Canadian?

Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in four sets

 

 

How to Watch the US Open 2020

Live Stream Amazon Prime Video <– Sign up for trial
Live Scores Tennis Live Scores on Britwatch Sports