By Chris Oddo | Thursday June 16, 2016
Andy Murray won his first match against a compatriot in 10 years on Thursday at Queen’s Club, taking down Aljaz Bedene in a competitive straight-setter, 6-3, 6-4. Murray had not faced another player from Great Britain since meeting Tim Henman in 2006 at Bangkok.
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Murray saved a break point in his opening service game before finally breaking through in the eighth game of the set as a Bedene forehand sailed long to give the World No.2 a break for 5-3.
Murray’s fifth ace of the set clinched the opener and he threatened to break in the first game of set two but Bedene stood tall, saving four break points to hold.
But a crisp crosscourt forehand allowed Murray to break in Bedene’s next service game for a 2-1 lead, but Bedene was quick to answer. He broke back for 2-all as Murray netted a backhand.
The four-time and defending Queen’s champion kept up the pressure however, and broke critically for 4-3 with a clean forehand winner into the open court.
Murray first meeting with a fellow Brit will be followed by another on Friday. He’ll face Kyle Edmund, who advanced when Paul-Henri Mathieu pulled out due to injury.
“It’s great all the British players are doing well,” Murray said. “I’m happy there are more Brits in the bigger events now.”
Muller Saves 10 Set Points to Down Isner
43 aces and five of five break points saved could not save John Isner from defeat on Thursday. Isner and Gilles Muller played the longest tiebreaker at Queen’s Club since 1997, and Muller saved six set point to take it, 18-16.
In the final set tiebreak, Muller saved another four match points to fall just short of what is believed to be the all-time record for match points saved in victory on the ATP Tour. Adrian Panatta saved 11 match points in Rome in 1976 to defeat Kim Warwick.
Muller, who hit 26 aces of his own, will face Bernard Tomic in the quarterfinals. Tomic downed Fernando Verdasco, 6-7(2), 6-4, 6-4.
Milos Raonic also advanced on Thursday at Queen’s Club. The Canadian improved to 2-0 on grass this season with a 7-5, 7-6(6) victory over Jiri Vesely.
Raonic saved all three break points he faced to improve to 29-7 on the season. ak points he faced to improve to 29-7 on the season.