In a thrilling encounter at the Miami Open, Andy Murray faced a dramatic exit after a grueling battle against Tomas Machac, succumbing to a 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5) defeat in the last-32 clash.
The 36-year-old Briton showcased his resilience early on, converting his ninth break point to secure a 6-5 lead in the opening set before eventually clinching it. However, Machac rallied back strongly, breaking Murray for the first time at 6-5 in the second set to level the match.
As the intensity heightened, Murray’s frustrations grew, exacerbated by disturbances from the crowd and interactions with the umpire, Carlos Bernardes. Despite Murray’s valiant efforts, including saving a match point to force a tie-break in the third set, Machac ultimately emerged victorious.
Murray’s resilience was evident even amidst adversity, as he battled through an ankle injury sustained late in the third set. Despite receiving treatment from the physio, Murray couldn’t overcome Machac’s determined play.
In a separate match, British number one Cameron Norrie faced a tough challenge against third seed Daniil Medvedev, succumbing to a 7-5, 6-1 defeat in just 81 minutes. Medvedev’s dominance was evident, particularly in his serving prowess and control over the match.
Reflecting on his win, Medvedev expressed concerns about the condition of the balls used in the match, highlighting their impact on the gameplay and strategy.
Meanwhile, other notable results included Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner’s comeback victory against Tallon Griekspoor and Casper Ruud’s progression with a straight-set win over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. However, Denmark’s Holger Rune suffered a comprehensive defeat against Hungary’s Fabian Marozsan.