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Andy Murray Indian Wells 2021
Andy Murray, ATP Tennis Players, British Tennis Players, Tennis News

Former world number four praises ‘incredible effort’ of Andy Murray


Andy Murray battled hard to overcome Carlos Alcaraz, to progress to the third round of Indian Wells, and that earned the praise of another former British number one.

The battle between generations saw Murray being handed a tough assignment to overcome the 18-year-old 30th seed.

Alcaraz recently became the youngest man to reach a Slam quarter-final since Michale Chang at Roland Garros 1990. The teen made the last eight of the US Open before retiring due to injury against Felix-Auger-Aliassime.

In California, Murray started strongly to go 3-0, 40-0 up on the Alcaraz serve, but failed to convert the double break and eventually lost the opening set 7-5.

However, the former world number one rallied to defeat the Spaniard 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in over three hours on-court.

“Incredible effort to physically beat the young Spaniard with a new calm outlook this week and acceptance,” former British number one Greg Rusedski tweeted on Murray following the victory.

“First time since Cincinnati 2020 that [Murray] has won back to back at Master series level.”

The result also marks just the third time in 2021 that Murray has registered back-to-back victories at ATP tour level.

The Brit’s next opponent is the same man that he defeated in the second of those two match wins at Cincinnati 2020, world number four Alexander Zverev.

The German defeated American youngster Jenson Brooksby in three sets to set up the tie with Murray.

The third round match will be their third meeting on-court, with Murray victorious on both previous occasions. The first came at the 2016 Australian Open when Zverev was just 18 and ranked 83rd in the world, the second in Cincinnati.


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