Happy returns for Murray

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:05

Although Bolelli was forced to retire hurt midway through the second set of Tuesday’s second round encounter, Murray was already 6-0 2-1 up when Italian lucky loser Bolelli called a halt to the match with what looked like a shoulder injury.

Aside from a defeat in the first round of the doubles with brother Jamie, Tuesday’s match was Murray’s first competitive outing since the Davis Cup three weeks ago and he said: “I’ve been playing really, really well in practice the last few weeks, better than I was playing throughout this summer.”

He added: “I was hitting the ball much better.

“I had a few nerves and the conditions are tough here, not just because the ball flies around a bit more, or higher, but the breathing is different, so there was a lot to take into account.

“I was really happy with the way I served and moved.”

The Madrid Masters is the first ATP event Murray has played in since the final of the US Open, when he lost to Roger Federer.

The 21-year-old said of his time away from competitive action: “I’ve never had that in the middle of a year before when I’m playing tournaments – where I’ve had that stretch of time off at home, it was different with my wrist injury.

“I think it can make a big difference because you don’t have that opportunity too often because of the way the calendar is done with the Masters series and stuff, it made it a big difference.

“I was home for maybe four and a half weeks, so it was really nice.”

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