Murray suffers setback as Edmund plays down confrontation with Evans
Andy Murray’s preparations for the restart of the professional tour ended in defeat as the former world No1 and his rookie partner, Jodie Burrage, were beaten in the mixed doubles at the Battle of the Brits.
The Scot’s appearance at the second day of the team tournament in Roehampton, however, was overshadowed by a confrontation between Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund after their singles match.
Once Evans posted a 6-4, 6-4 victory in a match that turned surprisingly competitive, the British No1 took exception with Edmund’s apparently forceful racket touch at the net, the socially distanced gesture introduced to replace the handshake. “Be very careful Kyle, be very careful mate,” Evans snapped.
Edmund then attempted to play down the incident, saying: “He said he misinterpreted touching the rackets. There was nothing there. The racket touch is not that big a deal. It is not like you are just going to play to get the practice, you are playing to win. Every match has been like that in terms of competitiveness.”
Murray and Burrage, the world
No289 who made her mark earlier in the week by defeating Johanna Konta, lost 4-6, 6-4, 10-8 to Joe Salisbury and Emma Raducanu. The latter pair’s win extended the British Bulldogs’ lead to 18-8 by the end of the second day of the event.
Murray is intending to travel to the United States to compete at next month’s US Open in New York, along with a warm-up event in the week before the grand slam.
The Scot, who underwent major surgery on his hip, has not played on the ATP Tour since winning the European Open last November.
Beaten Brits: Andy Murray and partner Jodie Burrage during their defeat yesterday
Konta, meanwhile, went some way to making up for losing her first competitive match since lockdown by defeating Katie Boulter, despite going a set and a double break down. The British No 1 looked set to make it two losses in a row, winning only four points on her first serve in an opening set which she lost 6-2. The 29-year-old fought back, however, winning five games in a row and forcing a tie-break thanks to a swiftly improved serve.
Unable to stop her Fed Cup teammate’s momentum, Boulter lost the second set after sending a backhand wide and bounced her racket to the ground in frustration.
Konta kept her level during the shortened decider, which is being played as a 10-point tie-breaker at the team tournament, and wrapped up an impressive win, 2-6, 7-6, 10-6.
“It’s not what it would feel like at a grand slam or WTA event, but it was good to give both of us the chance to get those competitive juices and pretend we’re somewhere else,” Konta said after beating 23-year-old Boulter. “These are my first competitive matches since the beginning of March, so it is going to take time. I was in a good mindset.”