Alex de Minaur has ensured that Andy Murray’s first look within the Monte Carlo Masters since 2017 led to a humbling defeat.
Murray, 35, gained direct entry into the celebrated event after a number of gamers, together with world quantity two Carlos Alcaraz and 11-times champion Rafa Nadal, withdrew attributable to accidents.
But Australian De Minaur, the No.14 seed, gave the previous world primary a torrid time on Monday, profitable 6-1 6-3 in simply 86 minutes
It was a uncommon look on clay for Murray, following his hip accidents and a complete joint alternative in 2018. Last yr he skipped all however one event of the clay-court season.
De Minaur reeled off the primary 4 video games and by no means regarded again, breaking serve for the third time to win the primary set in 35 minutes.
De Minaur did not supply Murray a single break level within the match and he now performs Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff within the second spherical on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former champion Stan Wawrinka rolled again the years to outlast Tallon Griekspoor, of the Netherlands, 5-7 6-3 6-4 and attain the second spherical.
Wawrinka, 38, misplaced a decent opening set however he discovered a means again into the match by dominating the second and grabbed an early break within the decider.
“It was really important to stay calm with myself,” stated the 2014 champion, the oldest man on this yr’s discipline, who clinched victory on his sixth match level.
“In the first round you need to find your game. The first match on clay is never easy against a good player. I’m happy to get through. It was important to fight until the end.”
Up subsequent for the three-times Grand Slam champion is world No.10 Taylor Fritz.
World primary Novak Djokovic will return to the tour on Tuesday, having been pressured out of tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami after being denied particular permission to enter the United States and not using a COVID-19 vaccination.
Djokovic will meet Russian qualifier Ivan Gakhov, who beat American Mackenzie McDonald in three units.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
