Former world no. 1 and five-time Queen’s Club champion Andy Murray made his return to tennis against Australia’s Nick Kyrgios at the Queen’s club in the Fever-Tree Championship.
Murray fought off a break point in the opening game and more in the fourth game.
Kyrgios had three break points against him in the fifth game but big serving saved two of them. On the third occasion, he double-faulted to give Murray a 4-2 lead.
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Photo: Australia’s Nick Kyrgios returns to Britain’s Andy Murray during their first round men’s singles match at the ATP Queen’s Club Championships tennis tournament in west London on June 19, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP/Getty Images)
Kyrgios at this stage appeared to be troubled by a leg injury.
Murray had a look at three set points when ahead 5-2. A Kyrgios ace saved one before another double fault from the unpredictable Australian handed Murray the first set 6-2 after 40 minutes.
Despite not playing since Wimbledon in 2017, Murray was looking in good form he was working hard and showing plenty of fight.
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Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 19: Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates winning a point during his match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on Day Two of the Fever-Tree Championships at Queens Club on June 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Kyrgios had another break point opportunity in the first game of the second set after some big hitting, Andy Murray handed the break to Kyrgios after hitting wide and long.
Murray immediately broke back after Kyrgios again double-faulted on break point when going for a big second serve.
Kyrgios got another break to lead 2-1 after Murray hit a wide open shot down the line into the net as his opponent casually rushed the net.
The Australian quickly won the next game to love and found himself ahead 3-1.
Murray held to get back to 2-3 and then had a look at two break-points. Kyrgios saved both, before giving up another one which a big serve again came to the rescue.
Kyrgios was now making Murray run hard to chase down the ball, eventually finding some empty court to take a 4-2 lead.
Murray held for 4-3 and then saw Kyrgios get careless and let slip a 40-15 lead to give Murray a break. Just when it looked as though Kyrgios would cruise to take the second set the match turned again in favour of the Scot. 4-4.
The Australian was in a good position at 0-30 before Murray fought back to save the game to edge ahead to 5-4. Kyrgios easily held serve, before Murray also held.
Which Nick Kyrgios would step up to the line? It was the big serving, clean hitting version, and we were into a tie-break.
The Australian jumped out to a 3-0 lead on the back of some big hitting and big serving. At 4-2 with Kyrgios serving, Murray pounced on a serve to put Kyrgios under pressure, a mid-court shot was easily put away by Murray, for 3-4, the 4-4.
A huge forehand took Kyrgios to 5-4, then a well placed serve made Murray hit wide for 6-4. It took just one set point as Kyrgios hit a forehand winner to level the match at a set apiece.
Kyrgios opened the first game of the deciding set to love. Kyrgios earned a break point in the next game as he made Murray stretch for a volley and in a worrying sign for British tennis fans, Murray was reaching for his back in pain.
Murray kept himself in the game as he forced an error from Kyrgios as the Australian hit a short ball into the net. Murray then hit into the net to give a third break point in the game. A shot on the line by Murray saved the game again for the time being. Then came his 12th ace for the match.
In the fifth game, Kyrgios worked his way to a breakpoint, but some good movement to a short ball saw Murray save the break and then a wide shot from Kyrgios game Murray game point. A long shot from his opponent saw the score level again at 3-3.
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Photo: Australia’s Nick Kyrgios returns to Britain’s Andy Murray during their first round men’s singles match at the ATP Queen’s Club Championships tennis tournament in west London on June 19, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP/Getty Images)
Games went with serve before we saw the match at 4-5 with Murray to serve to stay in the match. Kyrgios got himself to 15-30 with another huge winner, Murray got the next point for 30-30 after what would have been a Kyrgios winner clipped to the net before sailing wide. Then the Scot hit a careless shot wide to give his opponent a matchpoint. It was saved before another winner set up the second match point which after a long rally was again saved by Murray. A nice wide serve gave Murray the advantage as Kyrgios’ return hit the net.
The match continued as the time played ticked over 2 hours 30 minutes.
At 5-5 Kyrgios opened the game with a double-fault, then he hit a down the line winner, then an ace. Kyrgios was up 30-15. He just missed an ace down the centre before Murray jumped all over the Kyrgios second serve to hit a big winner. 30-30. A double fault as Kyrgios hit a flat second serve, but he saved the break with an ace, before another ace sealed the game. 6-5 to Kyrgios.
A shot hit well over the baseline from Murray handed Nick Kyrgios his third match point. Murray missed his first serve and then the crowd moaned as the second serve sailed well past the service line to hand his good friend the match.
Kyrgios looked gone in the first set as he lost focus and appeared to be injured, but as we know, Kyrgios can come back, and that he did to record a 2-6, 7-6(4), 7-5 victory over Murray. It was the first win for the Australian against Murray in six attempts. The match lasted 2 hours and 39 minutes. The Australian hit 51 winners to Murray’s 39 and Kyrgios had 42 unforced errors compared with 26 from Murray.
It will be an interesting day tomorrow to see how both players pull up. Kyrgios has a doubles match with Lleyton Hewitt to get through before a second-round match against either Ryan Harrison or the top-ranked Brit, Kyle Edmunds.
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Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 19: Andy Murray of Great Britain and Nick Kyrgios of Australia shake hands following their match on Day Two of the Fever-Tree Championships at Queens Club on June 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
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Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 19: A general view during the match between Andy Murray of Great Britain and Nick Kyrgios of Australia on Day Two of the Fever-Tree Championships at Queens Club on June 19, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
