Andy Murray beats Martin Klizan in first round in Vienna
Thursday 27 October 2016 08:17, UK
Andy Murray is through into the second round of the Erste Bank Open, the Austrian tournament he is using to bolster his bid to become world number one.
Murray defeated world No 35 Martin Klizan 6-3 6-7 (7-5) 6-0 in the first round, edging him a step closer to the 500 ATP points on offer for the winner of the Vienna tournament as he seeks to dethrone Novak Djokovic at the top of the world rankings.
Klizan opened with two break points against Murray but the Scot battled back - normal service was then resumed soon after as the British No 1 went 3-1 ahead by converting his first break point of the match. Klizan kept pace for the remainder of the set, even threatening at 0-30 as Murray served to take the opener, but it was not enough.
Murray was down a break point immediately in the second set but with supreme defensive work at the net he held on again, before claiming the lead as Klizan produced a number of errors. The Slovakian hit the best shot of the match with a sliced forehand midway through the second, but still fell 4-2 behind as Murray turned the screw.
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Yet Klizan always felt more dangerous during the second set - two late breaks of serve set up a tie-break, which he trailed throughout, until a mighty forehand winner from a weak Murray second serve eventually forced a decider.
But Klizan was spent - Murray raced through the third, which included three breaks to book a tie against Gilles Simon in the next round.
Watch the Erste Bank Open live on Sky Sports on Thursday from noon on Sky Sports 1 HD.
