Andy Murray says his ambitions for the US Open remain modest
"This is the first time I have played four sets in 14 months, so I just have to wait and see how I pull up tomorrow. Hopefully I feel good, and take it from there"
Tuesday 28 August 2018 12:54, UK
Andy Murray insists he is still taking his comeback "one match at a time" after winning his first match on his Grand Slam return at the US Open.
The former world No 1 battled to a 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 7-5 6-3 victory over Australia's James Duckworth on Monday and although he was thrilled to be back winning matches at majors again, he insisted his ambitions for the US Open remain modest.
After missing four successive Grand Slam tournaments with the hip problem that forced him to have surgery in January, Murray still fervently believes he can get back to the top of the sport.
He said before the tournament that, irrespective of what his fellow greats have achieved on their own comebacks from injury, he should not be considered a title contender, and nothing is about to change his mind.
"[To be a contender] I would have been able to train and practice a lot more than what I have done," he said. "I would have played more matches in the build-up to the tournament. There's many, many things that I would have wanted to change to be considered a contender.
"I don't think anything changes after today. I'm still just taking it one match at a time. This is the first time I have played four sets in 14 months, so I just have to wait and see how I pull up tomorrow. Hopefully I feel good, and take it from there."
There had been doubts about whether Murray would play at all after his late withdrawal from Wimbledon but, buoyed by coming through three tough matches in Washington earlier this month, the 31-year-old had no concerns about giving it a go.
He said: "The discomfort I have been feeling in my hip was a lot better than it was over the grass-court season. I've got a bunch of matches under my belt, a lot more training and just a better understanding of where my body is at."
Murray next faces 31st seed Fernando Verdasco and the Scot enjoys a 13-1 winning record over the 34-year-old Spaniard whose last win against the Briton at the 2009 Australian Open.
"Fernando is a great shot-maker and someone that when he's on his game, really tough to beat," added Murray.
"He has an extremely heavy forehand, plays with a lot of spin. On the serve, kind of difficult sometimes to know what he's going to do.
"I have played him sometimes where he's been going for huge serves. And then I also played in one, he served like 80 per cent first serve and kind of rolled the serve in."
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Tennis is back on Sky Sports screens with the Laver Cup in September while we will also have coverage of the ATP Finals in November with every match live on Sky Sports. But first, we will be across the final major of the year in New York as the US Open right through to the final with live blogs, reports, features and reaction.
