Andy Murray reaches last 16 Canadian Open, defeats Purcell
Posted : 10 August 2023
Andy Murray put up a determined fight to secure a spot in the last 16 of the Canadian Open, overcoming Australian qualifier Max Purcell in a hard-fought match. The 36-year-old British player triumphed over Purcell with a score of 7-6 (7-2), 3-6, 7-5 after a match lasting two hours and 47 minutes in Toronto.
Murray's next opponent will be Italian seventh seed Jannik Sinner, as he aims to advance to the quarter-finals. Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz also advanced to the next round by defeating American Ben Shelton with a score of 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) in his second-round match.
The Spanish world number one, Alcaraz, is set to face Poland's Hubert Hurkacz after a competitive encounter with Shelton. Murray and Purcell displayed closely contested gameplay in the initial stages. Despite Murray securing the first set through a tie-break, Purcell, ranked 78th in the world, made a comeback in the second set, leading to a decisive third set.
Purcell managed to take an early break in the final set, but Murray, a three-time Grand Slam winner, held his serve when trailing 4-2, initiating his comeback. At 5-5, Murray once again held his serve and took a crucial lead, ultimately breaking Purcell's serve in the 12th game of the set to seal his victory.
Reflecting on the competition, Murray expressed his enjoyment in watching Alcaraz play, particularly when the young player takes risks on the court. Murray emphasized Alcaraz's free-spirited and instinctive style of play, which he finds captivating and hopes Alcaraz maintains. Both Murray and Alcaraz are gearing up for the upcoming US Open, scheduled to begin on August 28th in New York. Alcaraz is the reigning champion, having secured his first Grand Slam title by defeating Casper Ruud last year.
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