Murray makes quick work of Thiem to advance in Madrid

Mutua Madrid Open | Draw | Order of play

The marquee matchup in the Mutua Madrid Open first round proved to be a one-sided affair, as Andy Murray defeated Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-4 on Monday night. Murray did not drop serve a single time while advancing after one hour and 47 minutes.

A break at 3-2 in the opening set was enough for the world No. 1, who did not face a break point until the second game of set two. All three of Thiem’s chances came at that stage, but Murray managed to hold for 1-1. Having failed to break, the 2020 U.S. Open champion’s disappointment grew when he was broken in the very next game. Murray had no trouble serving it out the rest of the way.

Mentally, it will take time (for him) to feel confident.

Andy Murray

Monday’s match was a battle between two injury-plagued Grand Slam winners. Murray almost retired in 2019 but hip surgery saved his career. Thiem missed nine months because of a wrist injury sustained during the 2021 grass-court swing. The 28-year-old Austrian is now 0-4 on his comeback (0-3 at the ATP level).

“It’s extremely difficult,” Murray said of Thiem’s comeback. “He obviously had the injury initially and has also had some setbacks along the way. Mentally, it will take time to feel confident, totally accelerating on the ball. I had a wrist injury when I was 20 years old and it was very difficult. It took me time before I started to feel comfortable on the forehand side again.

“He uses his wrist a lot when he plays. He plays with heavy topspin. It’s obviously going to take him time, but he can still hit the ball great. He’s serving well; moving well. It’s just going to take time.”

Murray vs Shapovalov in second round on Tuesday

Murray will get right back in action on Tuesday for second-round action against Denis Shapovalov, who beat lucky loser Ugo Humbert 7-6(1), 6-3.

The only previous meeting between Murray and Shapovalov came last year at Wimbledon, when the Canadian cruised 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Murray, however, was coming off a five-setter against Oscar Otte and had little left in the tank for his third-round match.

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