Magical Murray masters Moutet, begins US Open campaign with straight sets win

Former champion, Andy Murray is through his opener at the 2023 US Open prevailing over Corentin Moutet in three sets on Grandstand at Flushing Meadows on Tuesday evening.

Murray sealed it 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 in exactly three hours and will now face Alex Molcan or Grigor Dimitrov who are into a final set. After injury doubts pre-tournament, they were soon dispelled from Murray who was at his magical best at times and didn't have the usual grueling five-set match to contend with which has been a theme of his return to a semblance of his best since hip surgery.

To begin the tie, service holds were the matter of the day with Murray leading Moutet 3-2. But he laid a superb backhand and Moutet couldn’t make it allowing the Brit to lead 4-2 with a break of serve.

He looked so strong from there and cruised to the opening set 6-2. He sealed it in 37 minutes as his opponent pulled a mistimed forehand wide of the court. Struggling with injury pre tournament, he showed no signs of it to begin the tie.

Moutet though showed signs of life breaking serve at 3-2 in the end with Murray going 40-0 up but failing to close out his serve and a burst from the Frenchman saw him deal the blow. He consolidated the break albeit after Murray had a break point but Moutet staved that off.

Moutet went 5-3 up and one game away from levelling it up. But Murray suddenly turned it around keeping himself in the set before flipping it firmly on its head. He produced an exquisite break in which he wrong footed Moutet with a backhand winner to seal it after initially having two break points which came and went.

5-5 turned into 6-5 to Murray and Moutet threatened to lose his cool. He nearly smashed a second racket of the match as Murray cruised to one away from either a tiebreak or a second set win. It was the latter as masterful Murray produced a delightful volley drop shot to leave him stranded to open up before absolving late pressure from Moutet to seal a gift as Moutet smashed a wild shot long of the baseline.

It went back to being on serve in the third set at 2-2 as Murray looked to head towards the finishing post and put pressure on the Frenchman’s serve. It continued as thus until Murray went one away at 5-3 with a vital break. Initially going 40-0 up, it was sent to advantage but Murray sealed it.

There was controversy in the final game with hawkeye used for a double bounce and Murray’s first match point came and went at 40-30. He finally got over the line eventually though after four match points.