Murray starts in style
Monday 27 August 2007 23:37, UK
British number one Andy Murray reached the second round of the US Open with a straight sets win over Pablo Cuevas.
British number one through in straight sets
Andy Murray reached the second round of the US Open with a straight sets win over Pablo Cuevas.The British number one - seeded 19 at Flushing Meadows - showed no ill-effects from the wrist injury that has restricted him to just three matches in the last three-and-a-half months.
Murray settled his nerves by breaking Cuevas' serve at the first attempt on the way to taking the opening set 6-2.
Uruguayan Cuevas, the world number 129 who had beaten Murray's fellow Brit Jamie Baker during qualifying, never applied any pressure throughout a one-sided match.
Murray soon moved a double-break ahead in the second set and, despite giving one back, went on to take it 6-3.
That broke Cuevas' resistance and allowed Murray to race through the third set in 21 minutes without dropping a game.
Favourite tournament
"That's the happiest I've been on a tennis court for a long time," he told Sky Sports.
"To play like that in my favourite tournament meant quite a lot - even if it was just the first round.
"My forehand was getting better, it was more consistent after the first set.
"I need to tighten up my volleys as I missed a couple of easy ones, but apart from that everything was really good. My backhand was solid, I hardly missed any.
"I was moving well and served really big. Everything was solid considering the circumstances.
"I'm just happy to be back on the court feeling like I can compete against the best players."
Murray faces Swedish veteran Jonas Bjorkman in the second round.
