Hurray for Murray on return
Washington, Aug. 2: Three- time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray collected the biggest victory of his injury comeback at the ATP and WTA Washington Open while defending champion Alexander Zverev booked a matchup with his older brother.
Murray, sidelined by a right hip injury for 11 months until returning in June, ousted fourth seed Kyle Edmund 7- 6 ( 7/ 4), 1- 6, 6- 4 in an all- British matchup to reach the third round of the hardcourt tuneup for the US Open.
“That has been my best win since I started playing again,” Murray said.
“It’s a great win for me. It’ll give me more confidence going forward.” World number three Zverev defeated Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri 6- 2, 6- 1, to send the 21- year- old German top seed into his first ATP match against 30- year- old Mischa Zverev, the 15th seed who beat American Tim Smyczek 62, 7- 6 ( 9/ 7).
The 31- year- old Scotsman, who unleashed a primal scream and flurry of fist pumps after winning his opener, wiped away sweat this time before eventually pointing to the heavens, punching the air with his right fist and pumping his fist with satisfaction.
“Much better in terms of the way I played,” Murray said.
“Got a lot more points off my forehand. I was able to be more aggressive. I wanted to dictate more points and be inside the baseline, especially on the main points and particularly in the third set.
“I was less nervous. I increased my intensity at the end of the second set. I thought I did that well.”
Romania’s 93rd- ranked Marius Copil, who ousted French 14th seed Jeremy Chardy 6- 4, 6- 4, will face Murray in pre- quarters. STEPHENS STUMBLES
Third- ranked Stephens lost to 91st- rated Andrea Petkovic 2- 6, 6- 4, 6- 2. Stephens, who won the Miami Open in March, made a run to the French Open semifinals but stumbled early in her first hardcourt stop before defending her first Grand Slam title.
“Hopefully some things will connect in the next few weeks coming into the US Open,” Stephens said.
Petkovic, down a set and a break, rallied and won the final four games to reach the quarterfinals, her first victory over a top- 10 foe since beating then- number five Garbine Muguruza at Doha in 2016.
“It’s definitely a confidence boost,” Petkovic said.
Japanese third seed Naomi Osaka, ranked 17th, is the only top- 45 player remaining in the women’s draw.
Kyrgios, ranked 17th, tweeted he was “gutted” to withdraw over the same injury that caused him to retire from an Atlanta Open quarterfinal last week.
“I haven’t had enough time to be ready,” Kyrgios said. “The physio recommended a couple of days of rest, rehab and treatment. I’ve got ample time for it to settle down before Toronto.”