Andy Murray thankful to US Open organisers for allowing him extra rest time
Sunday 6 September 2015 08:41, UK
Andy Murray revealed he was thankful to US Open organisers after making a special request to play Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci later so he could rest his weary legs.
The British No 1 conserved energy on court with a comfortable straight-sets victory as he reached the last 16 at Flushing Meadows for the fifth consecutive year.
Murray survived two draining opening encounters against Nick Kyrgios and Adrian Mannarino but his 6-3 6-2 7-5 win over Bellucci to reach the last 16 was far more comfortable.
Sealing progress in a brisk two hours and 11 minutes, Murray can rest up ahead of the second week, which starts against South Africa's Kevin Anderson and could follow with Stan Wawrinka, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
Murray's was the last match on, playing under the lights of Arthur Ashe Stadium, and the Scot was thankful for the extra hours to recover from both fatigue and a niggling bout of cold.
"I just asked if I could play slightly later rather than first or second," Murray said.
"Today I felt much better. I slept during the day yesterday two or three times.
"Today I got up, and I slept again before coming out to the courts. I felt much, much better. My voice feels like normal again.
"It's still dull obviously, but it feels more normal today and not blocked up or anything any more, which is good."
Murray showed few signs of weakness, breaking Bellucci's serve five times during the match and dropping his own just once, early in the first set.
The Scot was typically tenacious in his defence and too quick in attack as Bellucci struggled to cope with his opponent's touch and creativity.
"I felt like I played well," Murray said.
"In these conditions, it's a bit easier to control the ball. The ball was not bouncing as high. It was a bit flatter.
"In the conditions the other day, when you tried to flatten the ball out, it was quite easy for it to sail on you.
"It was harder to serve today. It was much slower conditions to serve in so there were less aces but then obviously returning's a little bit easier, as well.
"So I felt like I played well. But the conditions helped that, too."
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