Andy Murray produced his best performance of the year to beat former top 10 player David Goffin 6-3 6-2 to reach the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
The 2009 champion in the desert was simply brilliant on serve as he met fifth seed Andrei Rublev in style on Friday.
After starting the 2024 season 0-4, the 36-year-old has now won each of his last three first-round matches.
Murray, now ranked No. 61, never faced a break point as he improved to 8-0 against Goffin, including taking all 17 sets they have played against each other.
Strong serving was key to Murray’s recent victory, with the 36-year-old winning 85 per cent (23-27) of his first serve points and not facing a break point in the match.
“For me it was a service,” he said. “It frees up the rest of my game. When you always have to fight and work for points on your serve, you feel more pressure but today I got a lot of free points from my serve.
“It freed me up in the return games and I was able to hit the ball well from the back of the court, defend well when I had to. A perfect performance.”
In a nip and tuck first set, after a break point in Goffin’s opening service game, Murray had to be patient when he was able to strike when he was 4-3 up.
Murray claimed the first break of the match in the eighth game and sent down two aces to seal the 34-minute opener where he won the final 10 points.
The momentum was now with the British No. 4 and a double fault by Goffin gave him an early advantage in the second set.
Murray continued to question Goffin’s serve and another break came to put him on the brink of a place in the last-64, which was sealed with an ace.
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“It was controlled aggression from the back of the court, he wanted to threaten Goffin, he wanted to carry the ball, and he did that and made the mistake count.” Winning in such a convincing manner is a great start.
“You want to see him enjoying himself out on the court, he’s a perfectionist but it hasn’t been happening for him recently with his frustration of practicing well and then not delivering on the match court, he knows he’s tennis.” worth it.
“Every win at this stage of his career is a good one.”
Laura Robson: He was able to play well tactically
“He was a bit more relaxed about the situation and that probably played a part in being 7-0 head to head.” He knew he had this man’s number. Instead of getting angry with himself, he was able to play well with strategy. Great to see and I hope it continues to run.
Disappointing exit for Draper
Jack Draper suffered a disappointment in California when he lost in the first round to Christopher O’Connell in three sets.
British prospect Draper had made the last 16 of the tournament in 2023 but lost six straight games in the final set to defeat his Australian opponent 1-6 6-3 6-2.
It continued a disappointing run for Draper, who made the semi-finals of the Mexico Open last week but was forced to retire in the final four with eventual champion X de Menor.
Draper showed no ill effects early on as he battled food poisoning in Acapulco and eventually saved several break points to consolidate his advantage before taking a long fourth game to go 3-1.
The second break allowed the world number 37 to take the opener 6-1 but he landed two double faults early in the second to hand O’Connell.
The Australian didn’t look back and forced a decider, which started with Draper saving four break points before breaking him to go 2-0 up.
Draper ran out of gas though, with world number 66 O’Connell facing a second-round meeting with Alexander Zverev.
What’s happening in Indian Wells on Thursday?
Former US Open champion Emma Radukano takes on Swiss-born Spanish world number 96 Rebecca Massarova in the first round of the unofficial fifth major. 7pm UK time Sky Sports Tennis.
Masarova is 2-6 for 2024 but lost to Great Britain’s Heather Watson in qualifying.
Raducanu, who has been working with childhood coach Nick Cavadi, says working on his game rather than winning matches is his priority this year.
The 21-year-old, who reached the fourth round in the California desert last year, has been training at home in London for the past two weeks and said she wants to work on becoming a better tennis player.
“I think for me I’m not too worried about this year’s tournament. A lot of people out there will say that I need matches but I think for me I want to work on my game and development.
“It’s very important to take the time to do that and not just follow the crowd, or play a lot of matches, or do it (under the WTA tour). I want to work on developing skills.”
Dean Evans and Naomi Osaka are in action on day two in tennis paradise but Rafael Nadal was forced to withdraw late on Wednesday night.
He said: “I’ve been working and training hard and you all know I had a test this weekend but I don’t feel ready to play at a high level.
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