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Andy Murray beat 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem comfortably to achieve the second spherical of the Madrid Open.
In his first match on clay since August 2020, the spectacular Briton gained the high-profile first spherical match 6-3 6-4.
Former world quantity three Thiem is continuous his personal comeback after eight months out with a wrist damage however Murray proved the far stronger participant.
They embraced on the finish as Murray instructed Thiem: “Preserve going. It takes a variety of time however you may be advantageous.”
He added: “I hope you’re feeling higher quickly mate. Nice to see you again.”
The 34-year-old, who has had his personal well-documented damage troubles, is the fourth British man into the second spherical after Cameron Norrie joined Dan Evans and wildcard Jack Draper in progressing earlier.
Murray achieved a break in both set with Austrian Thiem struggling together with his forehand specifically.
Thiem, now ranked 91st on this planet, was enjoying his fourth match of the 12 months, having begun his comeback in March, however stays and not using a win.
Murray had deliberate to skip the clay-court season however reversed his choice final month when accepting a wildcard for Madrid.
“I’ve hardly performed on it [clay] for the final 5 years actually,” Murray stated. “I did 4 weeks coaching so felt extra comfy than I often do.
“I performed properly. I assumed Dominic was enjoying properly at occasions however he has clearly simply began enjoying once more as properly.”
Murray will subsequent play Canada’s 14th seed Denis Shapovalov, who beat him at Wimbledon final 12 months.
Norrie, in the meantime, the present British primary, shook off sickness and an early setback to beat South Korean Kwon Quickly-woo.
Norrie, 26, was damaged in his opening service recreation and trailed 4-1 within the first set, saving two set factors earlier than profitable 7-5 7-5 towards the qualifier.
“I have been slightly bit sick, I sound like I’ve simply smoked a packet of ciggies,” stated Norrie, who faces American John Isner subsequent.
“However I am feeling higher each day.”
He instructed Amazon Prime: “I used to be comfortable to even play right here this week and was simply lucky to get a win like this towards Quickly-woo, who was assured and enjoying properly.”
Within the day’s different motion, Italian tenth seed Jannik Sinner saved three match factors in a 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory over American Tommy Paul.
In the meantime, within the girls’s occasion, Romanian former world primary Simona Halep reached the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-4 win over American 18-year-old Coco Gauff.
Halep, the 2018 French Open champion who’s unseeded in Madrid following a sequence of accidents, has but to drop a set as she finds some good type earlier than the clay-court Grand Slam at Roland Garros later this month.
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