Andy Murray hobbles out of Cincinnati after losing battle of Brits from set up
Andy Murray once again suffered from cramping on the way to defeat against world number 13 Cameron Norrie in the second round of Cincinnati.
The two-time Cincinnati Open champion was a set up over compatriot Norrie but ultimately fell 6-3, 3-6, 4-6 to the British number one.
Murray did have his chances, with a mixture of squandering nine of 11 break points and the comparative fitness levels between himself and Norrie the biggest factors in the loss.
The 35-year-old required treatment for cramp multiple times, including event after the contest to make it off the court.
“Really not much in it, I think it just came down to a little bit of physicality,” Norrie explained to Greg Rusedski after his victory. “It didn’t help [Murray] that his match with Stan [Wawrinka] went really long and he was struggling a little bit towards the end.
“I just got through with my attitude and just tried to stay as positive as I could. Nothing was really working for me and I managed to find myself at one set all, I don’t know how, and then the last set was just a battle.”
Murray overcame Wawrinka after nearly three hours on court to earn the chance to face Norrie, with that battle also lasting over two and a half hours.
In both Washington DC at the start of the month and now in Cincinnati, Murray has suffered cramp in three matches, an unwanted test ahead of the final Major of the year in New York.
For Norrie, Cincinnati has brought multiple welcome firsts in his career, having previously never won a main draw match at the Ohio event in two appearances.
Now he has two to his name, plus a first career win over Murray after losing their first meeting at the China Open back in 2019.
Norrie awaits the winner of Montreal Masters semi-finalist Casper Ruud and American wildcard Ben Shelton as his opponent in the last 16.
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