Murray Cools Off Granollers In Indian Wells
Murray Cools Off Granollers In Indian Wells
Brit overcomes slow start to advance
Andy Murray found himself in a tricky situation at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, opening against an opponent who had dropped just one game in the first round. After a slow start against Marcel Granollers, however, the No. 2 player in the Emirates ATP Rankings rebounded strongly to secure a 6-4, 7-6(3) second-round victory.
“He’s got quite a different game,” said Murray of Granollers. “He’s a very smart player and often makes the right decisions. He made it tough for me.
“When it gets windy here it can be difficult to play really well, I think. It does make it challenging.”
The Brit struggled in the early part of the match and found himself down 1-3, but swept the next four games to regain the lead. In the second set, Granollers saved all five break points faced to force a tie-break. Murray improved to 6-1 in the FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry against Granollers and has not dropped a set against the Spaniard since 2013.
Awaiting Murray is Argentine Federico Delbonis, who defeated No. 32 seed Joao Sousa of Portugal 7-6(6), 6-4. Delbonis took the first set despite winning one fewer point than his opponent (42 to 43), then scored the lone break of the second set to advance. Delbonis and Murray will meet for the first time at tour-level.
Albert Ramos-Vinolas edged Nick Kyrgios 7-6(4), 7-5 to move into the third round. The Spaniard saved all 10 break points faced and earned his first win in three FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings with the Aussie, whose Indian Wells preparation had been affected by illness.
“Every time I have played him it’s been a tough match,” Kyrgios said. “He always goes out there and competes. I thought that these conditions probably suit him. He likes to rip his forehand.
“I’m nowhere near where I was. I was trying to force practice sessions here, trying to push, but my body wasn’t letting me do it.”
The Spanish left-hander will next face No. 13 seed Gael Monfils, who saw off Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5, 7-6(1). The Frenchman has faced Ramos-Vinolas only once at tour-level, on clay in Hamburg five years ago. Monfils won 6-4, 6-2.