Murray not discouraged by exit
Former major winner pleased with his effort
NEW YORK — Andy Murray’s latest Week 1 exit at a Grand Slam tournament did not discourage him. The three-time major champion still thinks he can go toe-to-toe with the best in men’s tennis — even after two hip operations, even as the years without a trip past the third round at any of the sport’s biggest events stretch on.
After bowing out at that stage of the U.S. Open with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (1), 63 loss across more than 3.5 hours Friday against 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini, Murray chose to look on the bright side.
“I’ve got a metal hip. It’s not easy playing with that. It’s really difficult. I’m surprised I’m still able to compete with guys that are right up at the top of the game,” Murray, 35, said, resting his head on his left hand. “Matches like this, I’m really proud that I have worked myself into a position where I’m able to do that. I’m really disappointed that I didn’t get over the line today. But I get reminded, like, ‘This is the first time you’ve made the third round here since 2016.’ It’s been six years.
It’s been a difficult six years for me.”
Berrettini, a big hitter who reached the 2019 semifinals at Flushing Meadows, dominated in just about every statistical way at Arthur Ashe Stadium, hours before 23-time Grand Slam title winner Serena Williams was due to take on Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round.
Coco Gauff, an 18- year- old American who reached the final at the French Open in June, made it to the fourth round at the U.S.
Open for the first time with a 6-2, 63 victory over Madison Keys, the 2017 runner-up in New York and seeded 20th this year.
Gauff’s match ended a little more than an hour before Williams-Tomljanovic was due to begin — and so the teen looked ahead a bit.
“I know she’s on my side of the draw,” Gauff said about Williams, whom she cites as an idol and inspiration and would love to get the chance to face. “Hopefully we can both keep winning. It’s been a lifelong dream of mine for that to happen.”
Gauff now meets Zhang Shuai, who eliminated Rebecca Marino, 62, 6-4.
In other action during the day session, Wimbledon finalist Ons Jabeur came back to defeat No. 31 Shelby Rogers, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, and avoid the sort of early exit by a high-seeded woman that has filled the first week of play at the year’s last major. No. 2 Anett Kontaveit (who lost to Williams), No. 3 Maria Sakkari and No. 4 Paula Badosa are all aready gone, as are 2021 champion Emma Raducanu and 2021 runner-up Leylah Fernandez; No. 1 Iga Swiatek and No. 5 Jabeur have offered a bit of the expected.
Alison Riske-Amritraj of Peters Township advanced to the fourth round with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Xiyu Wang of China.