Andy Murray earns his first win over a top 10 player THIS YEAR as he digs in to outlast Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz and reach second round of Vienna Open
- Andy Murray beat Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in the Vienna Open first round
- Murray prevailed in two hours and 41 minutes over the Polish world No 10
- The Scot missed a second set match point but ultimately came out on top later
- Victory over the Wimbledon semi-finalist is Murray’s first top ten win this season
Andy Murray’s extraordinary persistence paid off on Monday night when he scored his first top ten victory of the season.
The 34 year-old Scot, desperately searching for a run to fire him up the rankings, defeated Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-7 6-3 to reach the second round of the Vienna Open.
Murray had to dig deep yet again as he missed a second set match point before prevailing in two hours and 41 minutes over the world No 10.
Andy Murray scored his first top ten victory of the season in the vienna Open first round
He could have been discouraged by losing yet another tiebreak to a top twenty player, but bounced back in the decider, giving his metal hip yet another thorough workout.
By winning he did compatriot Cam Norrie a favour, as Hurkacz is one of the new British No 1’s main rivals to claim one of the two remaining spots in next month’s eight-man ATP Finals in Turin. Norrie today faces Hungary’s Marton Fucsovics as he attempts to become an unlikely qualifier for the year end championships.
Murray recovered from an early break down in the third set, swallowing the disappointment of losing his sixth consecutive tiebreak against a top twenty player.
The twice Wimbledon champion now faces exciting Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, who earlier defeated Dan Evans 6-4 6-3. Murray beat the same player this month at Indian Wells.
The 34 year-old Scot defeated Wimbledon semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-7 6-3
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