Defending champion Murray faces Malisse in Toronto opener
Andy Murray faces a tricky opening match against the in-form Xavier Malisse as he begins his title defence at the Rogers Cup in Toronto, after the Belgian defeated Michael Berrer in straight sets in the first round.
Fourth-seeded Murray, who received a first-round bye at the Masters 1000 tournament, is playing in his second tournament since parting ways with coach Miles Maclagan and still remains in search of his first title in 2010 after falling to world No. 20 Sam Querrey in the Los Angeles final in his last competitive outing.
This time last year, the 23-year-old was aiming for his fifth tournament victory of the season.
While Murray’s showing in LA and at Wimbledon, where he reached the semi-finals, indicate the Scot has finally and recovered from his post-Australian Open final form slump, Malisse nonetheless presents a potential stumbling block early in Toronto after a strong performance in Washington last week.
The world No. 52 defeated two players ranked inside the top-20, including Wimbledon runner-up and world No. 8 Tomas Berdych, on his way to the semi-finals before eventual runner-up Marcos Baghdatis brought him undone.
With victories over current world No. 2 Novak Djokovic (in the round of 16 at the Queen’s Club) and then world No. 17 Juan Carlos Ferrero (admittedly on grass in the first round at Wimbledon) this year there is mounting evidence that Malisse is developing a penchant for an upset.
Murray is allowing himself all the time he needs to select a new coach – he won’t be naming Maclagan’s successor until after the US Open – but he won’t have the luxury of easing his way into the action in Toronto if Malisse has packed his Washington form with him for the trip to Canada.
Along with Murray, world No. 1 Rafael Nadal will be beginning his Toronto campaign on Wednesday, with the French Open and Wimbledon champion to face Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka in his opening match.
Roger Federer has already been in action at the tournament, with the world No. 3 winning his opening match – his first since bowing in the Wimbledon quarter-finals – against Juan Ignatio Chela 7-6(7), 6-3 on Tuesday.
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