MURRAY SAYS NO TO SINGLES
Briton will play in doubles and mixed doubles at US Open
ANDY Murray announced on Monday he would not play singles at the US Open after losing in his long-awaited return from hip surgery at the Cincinnati Masters.
The Scot lost 6-4, 6-4 to Richard Gasquet in his first singles match since January before saying he had turned down a wild card into the men’s draw at the year’s final Grand Slam.
“I am not going to play US Open singles,” the 32-year-old said.
“I didn’t feel I was able to make that decision before today’s match.”
He indicated, though, that he would play doubles and mixed doubles at Flushing Meadows in two weeks and left open the door for possibly for playing before then.
“I may play Winston-Salem potentially,” he said of the North Carolina event, which starts in six days.
“But I’ll probably look at just playing doubles and mixed doubles. That’s what I will do at the US Open.”
In his first match since the hip resurfacing surgery which he hopes will prolong his career,
Murray started tentatively but improved as the match went on, even if he was always up against it after Gasquet broke his serve to start both sets.
“I don’t really know what I was expecting, to be honest. I think I did okay,” he told a news conference.
The former World No 1 arrived on centre court to huge cheers, recording a video of the moment as he offered a big smile.
A focused Nick Kyrgios later defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 7-6, 6-4 in their first-round duel under the lights.
The unpredictable Australian bowed for the crowd after an impressive backhand stab volley gave him a 4-2 lead in the second set but he was otherwise business-like in the win.
Kyrgios, who won the Citi Open last week, said he was ready to build on that success after he was eliminated in the first round of the Rogers Cup on Tuesday following an argument with the chair umpire.
Next up for Kyrgios is a first career meeting with eighth seed Karen Khachanov in the second round today.
Earlier, Marin Cilic became the first seed to fall when he was eliminated by Radu Albot of Moldova 6-4, 7-6 (6), while Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic upset Canadian Felix Auger Aliassime 6-3, 6-3.
American Sam Querrey and Japan’s Yodhihito Nishioka were also winners, Querrey outlasting France’s Pierre-Hughues Herbert 7-6 (2), 7-6 (1) and Nishioka defeated Australian Jordan Thompson 7-5, 5-7, 6-4.
World No 2 Rafa Nadal, the second seed, withdrew overnight, citing fatigue after winning his fifth Rogers Cup title on Sunday.
Maria Sharapova overpowered Alison Riske 6-3, 7-6 (4) at the Cincinnati Masters on Monday and faced World No 2 Ash Barty in the second-round. Ash defeated the Russian at this year’s Australian Open.
Another former World No 1, Caroline Wozniacki, fell to rising Ukrainian teenager Dayana Yastremska 6-4, 6-4 under the lights to close out the day’s action.
Johanna Konta suffered her second straight first-round exit at a tournament as she fell 6-3, 36, 7-5 to qualifier Rebecca Peterson in a marathon first-round match.
Svetlana Kuznetsova upset 11th seeded Anastasija Sevastova 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-4 in their first-round battle to set up a second round clash with Dayana.
Seven times Grand Slam champion Venus Williams moved through the first round when she defeated compatriot Lauren Davis in straight sets 7-5, 6-2. .
Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva and Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich won three set matches.
Yulia defeated Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia 6-2, 7-6 (3), 63 and Aliaksandra beat Astra Sharma of Australia 6-1, 4-6, 6-1.