Murray is pleased to win in ‘tough circumstances’

ANDY Murray came through a gruelling 160-minute firstround match at the Erste Bank Open to eventually beat world number ten Hubert Hurkacz.

The Scot has lost to a number of the world’s top ten since the US Open – Hurkacz being one last month in Metz – but after a good start in Vienna Murray ended up becoming embroiled in a lengthy battle with the Polish fifth seed.

Murray blamed a poor attitude for not getting beyond the last 16 in the

European Open in Antwerp last week, but there was no questioning his commitment on his return to the court on Monday.

The first eight games went with serve before the former British number one broke to allow him to take the set 6-4.

With both players holding their serve in the second it went to a tiebreak, which Hurkacz won 8-6 thanks to two unforced errors.

Murray enjoyed two service breaks in the deciding set, winning 6-4, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. His opponent in the next round will be 18-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, who beat British number two Dan Evans earlier in the day.

“It was a good match that could have gone either way. A good win in tough circumstances,” Murray said.

Defeat for Hurkacz gives a chance to those players chasing him in the race for an ATP Finals spot, including

Cam Norrie, who notched up a win number seven in a row as he opened his campaign with a victory over Marton Fucsovics. Norrie overcame a difficult start to win 7-6 (7-4), 6-1.

Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu won for the first time since her US Open success as she made it through the first round of the Transylvanian Open. Raducanu, whose father is Romanian, is playing what must feel like a home tournament in Cluj. She came from behind to beat Polona Hercog 4-6, 7-5, 6-1.