Andy Murray won his first Grand Slam singles match in a year as he saw off the stubborn challenge of James Duckworth in four sets to move into round two of the US Open.
Murray had not played a Slam match since Wimbledon last year but while he was rusty at times, the double Olympic champion showed impressive fitness to come through 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
His Australian opponent caused him plenty of problems in a tight first set where Murray missed a couple of set-point opportunities at 6-5.
Murray had not played a Slam match since Wimbledon last year but while he was rusty at times, the double Olympic champion showed impressive fitness to come through 6-7, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.
His Australian opponent caused him plenty of problems in a tight first set where Murray missed a couple of set-point opportunities at 6-5.
Instead it was Duckworth who took the tie-break but from there Murray was able to raise his game a level, adjusting his return game to good effect.
He said: “At times it was tricky especially, early on in the match. It was very lively and very hot. The ball was flying around.
“James was serving big and playing a lot of drop shots, throwing me off rhythm a lot. So I am happy I managed to get through that and play some good stuff at times.
“I made a bit of a change on the return games, I started standing a bit further back to give me a bit more time. Once I got into the rallies I was a bit more comfortable, I found my range with the ground strokes and improved from there.
“I am very happy to be back.”
Murray’s victory continues his record of reaching the second round of the US Open on every occasion he has competed and sets up a tie with Fernando Verdasco, who beat compatriot Feliciano Lopez.
While Murray enjoyed a strong start to his US Open campaign, British number one Kyle Edmund fell in the first round as he struggled with cramp in the searing heat.
The 23-year-old started strongly, taking the first set against Italian Paolo Lorenzi 6-4 but his opponent hit back breaking in the tenth game to take the second set by the same scoreline.
Edmund looked to be back in control in the third set, breaking early on, but Lorenzi got back on serve and then came through to take it 7-5 with Edmund visibly struggling.
The Brit lacked the energy to battle in the fourth set, struggling to move around the court and eventually went down 6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 1-6.
Heather Watson was also in action on day one against experienced Russian Ekaterina Makarova, eventually going down in three sets, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6.
Overwhelmed in the first set, Watson looked like she was going to be comfortably beaten when Makarova went a break up in the second but she responded by breaking back and closing out the set comfortably.
The crucial moment came at 3-2 in the decider as Makarova eventually found a way through for the decisive break and served out for the win to deny Watson a first main draw victory at Flushing Meadows.
Sportsbeat 2018