MY ACCOUNT
Andy Murray and Daniil Medvedev both know they could have done things better in Saturday’s match, though it was the Russian who progressed with relative ease from the tie.
Medvedev, who enjoyed a short-lived stay as world number one earlier in March, defeated three-time grand slam winner Murray 6-4 6-2 to reach the third round of the Miami Open.
Murray beat Federico Delbonis in his first-round match but the former world number one has not won two successive games in a tournament since January, when he went all the way to the final in Sydney.
The crowd was largely on Murray’s side in Saturday’s contest yet Medvedev hardly felt the pressure. Indeed, the 26-year-old did not offer up a single break point throughout.
Nevertheless, Medvedev saw scope for development in his game, though was still able to reflect on a relatively routine victory.
“I think it was a great match. It’s never easy, even if you practice on the same courts for one or two months, it’s never going to be the same as a competitive tournament match,” said Medvedev, who is top seed in Miami.
“So I’m happy that I managed to have zero break points against me. I feel like I have some room for improvement, but it was a great match against an amazing player and I’m happy that I managed to go through.
“On the days when you serve good, your opponent doesn’t have this freedom to return, it helps you.
“[In the] second set, the scoreline was easier, it was much tougher in the beginning, but when your opponent knows you’re probably going to get some aces and it’s not going to be easy for him to return, he gets pressure on his serve and many times that is what happens in close matches.
“Every opportunity I had I tried to take it, to go for it, and there were a lot of moments when I was happy about my game.”
Murray, on the other hand, acknowledged he is simply not yet at a level where he can expect to outlast the world’s best players.
“My level of tennis is obviously not right now where it needs to be to win matches like that,” the 34-year-old told reporters.
“Today there were some good signs on the court but the two key things in tennis are serve and return. I didn’t do either of them particularly well.”
