Cincinnati Masters LIVE: Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka wrote another chapter into their long-running rivalry on Monday at the Western & Southern Open, where the Scot advanced with a hard-fought 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5 victory in Cincinnati. The former World No. 1 showed his fighting qualities during the two-hour, 34-minute first-round match. He rallied from a break down in the third set to improve to 13-9 in their ATP Head2Head series. Follow Cincinnati Masters LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Cincinnati Masters LIVE: Andy Murray defeats Stan Wawrinka in three sets in first round at Cincinnati Masters
🚨MAIN DRAW UPDATE🚨
Two-time #CincyTennis Champion @andy_murray will face Stan Wawrinka in the first round!
Do you have enough popcorn stocked for this tournament?! 🤩🍿 pic.twitter.com/IZoX1pbJcM
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 13, 2022
Following his epic two-hour and 54-minute win, the Scot now holds a 35-14 record in Cincinnati, having lifted the trophy in 2008 and 2011. The 35-year-old will look to taste further success at the hard-court event when he faces Cameron Norrie in the second round after the ninth seed edged #NextGenATP Dane Holger Rune 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4.
Murray arrived in Ohio off the back of a disappointing first-round exit in Montreal last week. However, the 46-time tour-level champion has shown signs of promise this season, reaching finals in Sydney and Stuttgart, helping him rise back into the Top 50 in the ATP Rankings for the first time since 2018.
In a tight battle in Ohio, there was little to separate World No. 47 Murray and Wawrinka in the first set. After both remained strong on serve, a tie-break was left to decide the opener, with Murray clinching the set when Wawrinka fired a forehand long. Wawrinka refused to go away in the second set, though, and was rewarded for his attacking play in the eighth game when he broke to lead 5-3. After failing to serve out the set, the three-time Grand Slam champion finally levelled when he broke Murray again in the 12th game.
With both players tiring in a physical third set, it was Murray who found an extra gear despite receiving multiple medical timeouts. The Scot battled from 0-2 down as he stood close to the baseline and stayed in rallies, eventually breaking to lead 6-5 before successfully holding to triumph. Murray let out a roar and raised his arms aloft when he sealed the match on his third match point
Cincinnati Masters LIVE: Andy Murray defeats Stan Wawrinka in three sets in first round at Cincinnati Masters
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