Murray cruises past Wawrinka in Eastbourne
eastbourne — Andy Murray beat Stan Wawrinka 6-1, 6-3 at the Eastbourne International on Monday in the second match of his comeback from long-term hip problems.
Murray returned last week at the Queen’s Club after 11 months out and lost to Nick Kyrgios in the first round.
Wawrinka’s erratic serve proved his downfall as, although he hit eight aces, he double-faulted four times, including on match point.
The Swiss player has also missed much of the past year through injury, including three months before his latest return last month.
Murray’s last success came in the fourth round of Wimbledon on July 10, 2017, when he was No. 1.
Murray, who had an operation on his hip in January, will be hoping for a few more wins at Eastbourne before the start of his bid to win a
Jay Clarke (GBR) beat Ryan Harrison (USA) 6-4 6-1; Denis Istomin (UZB) beat Andreas Seppi (ITA) 6-3 6-7(4) 7-6(4); John Millman (AUS) beat Gilles Muller (LUX) 6-7(5) 6-3 6-2; Jared Donaldson (USA) beat Taylor Fritz (USA) 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6; 6-David Ferrer (ESP) beat Matteo Berrettini (ITA) 7-5 6-3; Andy Murray (GBR) beat Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-1 6-3.
third Wimbledon. He next faces second-seeded Kyle Edmund, who overtook him as the British No. 1 while he was injured.
Another Briton is also through to the second round, after Jay Clarke beat Ryan Harrison of the US 6-4, 6-1. It was the teenager’s first ATP Tour win and his first victory over a player in the top 100. Harrison is ranked 58th.
Sixth-seeded David Ferrer of Spain also eased past Matteo Berrettini of Italy 7-5, 6-3.
Other winners included Jared Donaldson of the US, John Millman of Australia, and Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
In the women’s draw, defending champion Karolina Pliskova survived a scare to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and reach the third round. Topseeded Caroline Wozniacki, last year’s runner-up, had an easier passage as she beat Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-2.
Pliskova had never lost a set to Pavlyuchenkova in five previous meetings but the Czech player struggled in the second set before prevailing 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. The second-seeded Pliskova hit nine aces in the first set and seemed on her way to another comfortable victory.
However, Pavlyuchenkova broke immediately in the second set and, although the Russian was broken back, she broke Pliskova’s serve again and two successive errors from her opponent saw her level on sets.
But there was to be no upset as Pliskova broke in the third game of the third set and, after saving a break point in the next game, she never looked back.
Giorgi won the first two games against Wozniacki but that was to prove a false dawn for the Italian as three successive double faults appeared to shake her confidence and she lost the next six games and the first set, which Wozniacki sealed with a delightful shot down the line.
Wozniacki broke Giorgi at the start of the second set and the Danish player looked in impervious form as she stormed on to take the match, winning when Giorgi hit a forehand into the net. — AP
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