Murray loses in first match of the year on ATP Tour
Former world No 1 Andy Murray's return to the ATP Tour ended in defeat to Egor Gerasimov at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
Scotland’s two-time Wimbledon champion, working his way back to form after undergoing hip surgery two years ago, went down 7-6 (8) 6-1 to the world No 83.
In his first ATP Tour match of the year, the 33-year-old was edged out of a tight first set and was well beaten in the second.
Andy Murray's first ATP Tour appearance of 2021 ended in defeat to world No 83 Egor Gerasimov at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
Britain's two-time Wimbledon champion, still working his way back to form after undergoing hip surgery two years ago, went down 7-6 (8), 6-1.
Murray, who was unable to compete at the Australian Open after testing positive for Covid-19 in January, instead played at a lower-level Challenger tournament in Italy where he reached the final before heading to France.
The 33-year-old Scot may not get the court-time in his legs that he wanted this week, but he certainly got a work-out in a first set lasting an hour and 10 minutes against Belarusian Gerasimov.
Murray fell behind to an early break of serve but hit back to level the set at 4-4.
A double-fault gifted Gerasimov a mini-break in the tie-break and although Murray saved three set points, his opponent converted a fourth with an ace.
The second set was, by contrast, a one-sided affair with Murray winning just two points on serve as Gerasimov raced into a 5-0 lead.
Murray saved a match point as he finally got on the board but it was just delaying the inevitable as Gerasimov sent the former world No 1 tumbling out.
Johanna Konta lost her first match since withdrawing
from the Australian Open following a straight-sets defeat to Shelby Rogers at the Adelaide International.
The British No 1 was forced to curtail her participation at the opening major of the year midway through her first-round clash against Kaja Juvan with an abdominal injury.
And on her return to action, the third seed was comfortably outplayed by the in-form Rogers, who won 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 12 minutes to
book her place in the last eight.
It marks a further setback for Konta, 29, who endured a troubling 2020 campaign due to ongoing issues with a knee injury.
Speaking on court after the match, American Rogers, who reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, said: "I started the match really well with a quick break and I kept the momentum going.
"I knew I had to bring my best game for Jo, who can serve you
off the court whenever she wants. I was very happy with my return game tonight and I am excited to be in the quarter-finals."
Rogers awaits the winner of Coco Gauff 's last-16 clash with sixth seed Petra Martic. Gauff booked her place after seeing offjasminepaolini.theamerican spurned a match point in the second set before beating the Italian 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-2.
The 16-year-old will face Martic after the Croat bounced
back from dropping the opening set to beat qualifier Liudmila Samsonova 4-6, 6-0, 7-5.
French Open champion Iga Swiatek made light work of American Madison Brengle to open her campaign in Adelaide with a 6-3, 6-4 win to book a last-16 meeting with Maddison Inglis.
Inglis, the Australian qualifier, fought back from 3-0 down in the deciding set to seal a 5-7, 7-5, 6-4 win over Samantha Stosur.
The main entry route for European players into the US Open will be through a mini-order of merit on the European Tour for the second year in a row.
The USGA has confirmed the top 10 aggregate point earners (not otherwise exempt) across the Betfred British Masters (May 12-15), Made in Himmerland in Denmark (May 27-30) and the Porsche European Open (June 3-6) in Germany will earn places in this year's event at Torrey Pines on June 17-20.
It is down to the traditional
US Open final qualifying event in Europe not taking place again this season because of the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Scotland's Connor Syme was among the same number of players to get into last year's US Open at Winged Foot through a similar order of merit, though it comprised five UK Swing events on that occasion.
Keith Waters, the European Tour’s chief operating officer, said: “We are very pleased to continue our collaboration with the USGA in offering European Tour players an opportunity to earn places in the US Open, despite the disruption caused by the ongoing global pandemic.
“Last year’s qualifying series added further excitement to the inaugural UK Swing and I’m sure we can expect more of the same at the three events across Europe this year, where players will have the chance to secure coveted places at the third major of the season at Torrey Pines.”
Local qualifying will take place at 109 sites in the US and Canada from April 26, with 18 Mayas hopefuls bidding to join a field set to be spearheaded by defending champion Bryson Dechambeau.