Murray inspired by Citi Open win

TENNIS

ANDY MURRAY believes the manner of his victory over Kyle Edmund at the Citi Open in Washington was just as important as the result.

The former world No 1 prevailed 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-4 in the battle of the Brits to clinch the biggest win of his comeback from hip surgery.

Murray, now 832nd in the rankings, was facing the man who replaced him as British No 1 and gained a measure of revenge for his straight-sets defeat to Edmund at Eastbourne in June.

The 31-year-old was encouraged by a more attacking display against his compatriot. “It was much better, just in terms of the way I actually played the match,” he said.

“In the first match I basically spent the whole match defending, I was playing quite far behind the baseline. And that’s not really how I want to be playing moving forward.

“I spoke at good length with my coach about that. Regardless of the result, we wanted to at least be dictating more points, trying to use my forehand, be closer to the baseline.”

CYCLING

THE Cycling Ireland women’s talent team were the first riders on the track at the European Championships in Glasgow yesterday in heat one of the Women’s Team Pursuit, but their time of 4.57.325 was not enough to progress to the next round.

“We are a new team, this is our second big event. We have high hopes, we have big plans, and we will continue to work towards them best we can,” said Hilary Hughes on her major championships debut.

At the Para-cycling Road World Championships today, Paralympics champions Katie-George Dunlevy and Eve McCrystal aim to defend the world title they won last year in the Women’s B Tandem Time Trial.

Declan Slevin was forced out of the Men’s H3 Time Trial on the opening day in Italy when he suffered a crash in the wet conditions.

Elsewhere, Ireland’s Matthew Teggart finished second on the first stage of the Tour de Alsace, missing out on the win by half a bike length.

GOLF

FOUR Irishmen will fight for the title on the final day of the Seniors Amateur Championship on the Welsh coast at Royal Porthcawl – although it will take a miracle round for any of them to be crowned champion.

East Sussex’s Steve Graham leads the way for the quartet after hitting a four-over 76, to add to his opening score of 74.

His second round contained two double bogeys – one either side of the turn – and two birdies, which cancelled out bogeys on the ninth and 10th.

He heads into the final round on 150, 15 shots behind runaway leader Trevor Foster, who is eight strokes clear of the chasing pack.

Irish Senior Amateur Close champion Maurice Kelly (Naas) endured a difficult round, which included two double bogeys and four bogeys, leaving him on 152.