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Murray Sees Positives in Defeat

Streaking sideline-to-sideline, Andy Murray leaned low and lifted a clean backhand pass down the line in the 12th game.

The wild card made a spirited run, but Tennys Sandgren spoiled Murray's singles return with a 7-6(8), 7-5, Winston-Salem opening round win.

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The former world No. 1 said his second singles match since undergoing hip resurfacing surgery following the Australian Open in January was a positive step forward. 

"I think there was some good stuff in there," Murray told BBC Sport. "I think my ball striking was better than last week. I hit quite a few more winners, came to the net quite a lot. Obviously I didn't win but I do feel I was a bit more in control of what was happening out there.

"Physically I felt OK in the rallies, but I did notice in the second set that my first serve wasn't as good, and I think maybe my legs were a little bit heavy at the end there."



Sandgren seized a tense 75-minute opening set. The American served for the match at 5-4, but Murray broke. Sandgren broke right back then served it out.

“It was a great atmosphere. Everyone was super excited," Sandgren told ATP Tour.com. "Obviously, Andy, his career speaks for itself, so to have him here and playing and to be able to compete against him tonight was a pleasure.

"The match itself was really close. The first set could have gone either way and to come out with it was a big relief... It was a tight two-set match, long and physical and I'm happy to come through.”



The 32-year-old Murray fell to Richard Gasquet, 6-4, 6-4, in his singles return in Cincinnati last week.

The three-time Grand Slam champion will not play singles or doubles at next week's US Open.

Instead, Murray told BBC Sport he is considering playing the Challenger event in Mallorca, where he has trained in the past.

At his peak, Murray's court sense and anticipation were nearly unmatched. The two-time Olympic gold-medal champion said he aims to acclimate his body to repeated singles play and sharpen his instincts too.

"I think for my body it would be a good thing because I do feel at that level I will be winning matches each week," Murray told BBC Sport. "And I think it would be good for my game as well because I'm not quite seeing the points as I used to.

"And if I can get more matches, I'll start to work that out a little bit quicker, and see it faster. "I would probably rather stay playing outdoors because the next couple of tour events I'm playing are outdoors in Asia, but I haven't given it tonnes of thought."

Photo credit: Fever-Tree Tennis Championships Facebook 

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