BRIGHT BUT NOT BREEZY FOR MURRAY
It’s like playing indoors, says Andy
The next time Andy Murray faces Nick Kyrgios is likely to be in Glasgow in two weeks’ time in front of feverish hordes supporting Great Britain against Australia in the Davis Cup semi-final.
Kyrgios is expected to be the more rested of the two by then, Murray having knocked him out of the US Open in the early hours of yesterday to set himself up for an arduous run which continues today against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in the second round.
Who Murray’s teammates in Scotland will be remains a matter of conjecture, especially in light of James Ward’s recent run of defeats, albeit against mainly higher ranked opposition.
It is believed that Dan evans, who has been in excellent form in lower tiers of the tour, is under serious consideration. Next week a squad of four will be announced, although in practice it can be six, as two late changes are allowed.
British No 2 Aljaz Bedene remains ineligible for selection after acquiring UK citizenship in April pending an appeal, although he is the only other British man in the second round at Flushing Meadows. Today he faces American Donald Young.
Murray should be fortified by his four- set win over Kyrgios, which was high in entertainment value due to the sometimes eccentric antics of the gifted and unpredictable Australian. At times Kyrgios (left) seemed more interested in showing off than winning the match, but when, or if, he acquires maturity, his talent will make him a force to be reckoned with. As he told the media afterwards, with decent comic timing: ‘I don’t think any of us in this room right now were perfect at 20. Speak up if you were... thought not.’ One thing we did learn, which may be slightly injurious to Murray’s chances here in the big matches, is that the partly-built roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium has changed the conditions.
The Scot is a superb player in the wind but the structure becalms the traditional strong breeze. ‘It’s not as strong and as swirling as it usually is on the court,’ he said. ‘ It does have more of a feeling of being indoors now, whereas I used to feel like that court was one of the toughest of the big stadiums for people to play on.’
Murray faces the unorthodox left-hander Mannarino, the world No 36, on the Arthur Ashe Stadium tonight at around 8.30pm. The Parisian is a quiet and intense figure, in contrast to Kyrgios, does not have the same natural power at his disposal and did not sound overconfident after he beat Russian Konstantin Kravcuk. ‘If I play like that again Andy will kill me, he’s in a different league to me,’ said Mannarino.
Bedene, now in sight of the world top 50, must have a chance against Young, who could feel it in his legs after having to play five long sets to score a worthy victory over world No 11 Gilles Simon, who always makes his opponents run.
Lone GB female survivor Jo Konta has a shot at another major upset in the women’s field when she tackles Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza.
Konta defeated Muguruza in eastbourne prior to Wimbledon, but since then the Spaniard has reached the All england Club final.
The British No 2 is on a winning streak of 14 matches, while Muguruza has won only once since SW19 after playing a sparing schedule.
With no pressure on her, an eyecatching win for Konta cannot be ruled out.