Andy Murray showed some sympathy towards Australian livewire
Nick Kyrgios before their first round match at the 2015 US Open, however there
was no mercy from the British number one as he swept through to the second
round in New York.
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| Murray showed respect to the Australian after the match |
Murray certainly didn’t condone the actions of the opinion splitting and
controversial 20 year old, who was fined last month for comments made about
Stan Wawrinka’s girlfriend. Even so Murray, who is bidding for his third Grand
Slam title this fortnight, did offer some empathy before the match saying “everyone
makes mistakes and when he makes them it’s obviously in the spotlight”
The spotlight was certainly fixed on Kyrgios again in this
first round clash but thankfully on this occasion it was the tennis which did
the talking, recurrently from Murray who progressed in four sets.
Kyrgios played his part and was his unpredictable and
nonchalant self in a match which lasted just over two hours and finished with a
score of 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-1, it is the first time the Australian has taken a set
off Murray following three previous meetings.
In his post-match press conference Murray described Kyrgios’
lively on-court antics, which included him letting go of his racquet while
hitting and forehand and rolling up his sleeves at the start of the fourth set,
as “funny” before later expressing “you
have to concentrate on your side (of the court) as much as you can”
Murray’s concentration and resolve was certainly a big
difference in this match up and both are key characteristics which Kyrgios will
have improve on if he is to fulfil his unquestioned potential.
It was the Australian who seized the first opportunity
breaking the Murray serve in the third game of the match only to be broken back
in the next game. If this was a sprint the Australian would have stood a much
better chance over a shorter distance, but in a best of five set marathon
Murray had the significant advantage.
The Brit made his move breaking Kyrgios at 6-5 to take the
opening set; he subsequently fended off seven break points on his way to the
second which he took by six games to three. Kyrgios may have brought his
flamboyant style and compelling shots; however his hot and cold low percentage
tennis played right into Murray’s hands.
The Brit admitted he “had to do a lot of defending and
running in humid conditions” yet he remained robust and resolute and produced
the required accuracy when he needed to on serve.
Kyrgios did calm down to fashion up some more consistent
tennis and take the third set, however his attention span wavered dramatically
in fourth which raced away in under half an hour.
Murray made have shown respect to his younger opponent,
which other wouldn’t at this time, but on the court it was business as usual
and the Brit can now move his thoughts onto his second round against Frenchman Adrian
Mannarino.
