Andy Murray claims first win since sacking coach
Andy Murray has won his first match in the post-Miles Maclagan era, but his victory over qualifier Tim Smyczek in the second round of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles was hardly convincing.
The top seed looked to be on track for an easy victory after dropping just one game in the opening set before Smyczek worked his way back into the match by taking second. Murray steadied to ultimately take the 6-1, 4-6, 6-2 victory, but the Scot will surely be hoping for improvement as he moves forward in the tournament.
The world No. 4 earlier this week announced he had spilt with Maclagan, who had been his coach for two-and-a-half years, and will not be making a new appointment to the role until after the US Open.
Murray now faces Alejandro Falla in the quarters, after the Columbian defeated fifth seed Ernests Gulbis 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(8) in their second-round match. And if Falla’s name is ringing some bells, it’s probably got something to do with the fact the 26-year-old almost pulled off the biggest upset in Wimbledon history in the first round this year, when he took the first two sets from Roger Federer and served for the match in the fourth set before the six-time champion rallied to take the match.
While Murray survived his topsy-turvy first round match, despite dropping serve on four occasions, James Blake – whose ranking has dropped to world No. 117 on the back of injury and ordinary results – toughed out a 7-5, 7-6(5) victory over Germany’s Benjamin Becker to book a quarter-final match against fourth seed Feliciano Lopez.
And in the doubles Bob and Mike Bryan remain on track to break Mark Woodforde and Todd Woodbridge’s record for doubles titles after reaching the semi-finals in LA. The Bryan Brothers and the Woodies have been tied on 61 doubles titles apiece since the American twins won the title at the Mutua Madrilena Madrid Open this May.
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