Andy Murray overcomes Alexander Zverev in tight second-round battle

Dejan Kalinic

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Andy Murray overcomes Alexander Zverev in tight second-round battle image

Andy Murray overcame Alexander Zverev in a tight battle in the Western & Southern Open second round on Monday.

Murray, playing his first tournament of 2020, battled to a 6-3 3-6 7-5 victory over Zverev at the ATP 1000 event.

Granted a wildcard to play at the tournament, Murray upset fifth seed Zverev in his first win over a top-10 player since 2017.

Murray also reached the last 16 at an ATP 1000 event for the first time since Madrid in 2017, when he was the world number one.

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The Brit, 33, mixed 16 winners with 31 unforced errors, while Zverev had 31 and 49 respectively as he struggled with his serve late in New York, where the event is being held instead of Cincinnati due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A solitary break was enough for Murray in the first set as he opened up a 4-1 lead before closing it out.

However, Zverev levelled the contest, winning the final three games of the second set.

Murray, becoming increasingly talkative on the court, took control of the decider as he raced into a 4-1 lead, but the clash was a rollercoaster from then on.

Zverev reeled off four consecutive games and served for the match, but double faults cost the German.

Murray capitalised on Zverev's wobbles, breaking back and then again in the 12th game to seal his victory and a third-round meeting with Milos Raonic.

Dejan Kalinic