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By Chris Oddo | Sunday January 15, 2016

 
Andy Murray

Andy Murray struggled at times but still managed to defeat Ilya Marchenko without dropping a set.

Photo Source: Mark Peterson/Corleve

Andy Murray’s first match as an honorary knight and No.1 player was a bit of a dogfight. The Scotsman had to really battle hard with his opponent Ilya Marchenko before sealing off his 7-5, 7-6(5), 6-2 win, but the bottom line is he got it done and dusted and without dropping a set.

“I don't think it was the best match, to be honest,” Murray said.

But the win is in the books, and a second-round clash with 19-year-old Russian Andrey Rublev awaits. That should give Murray another chance to get acclimated to the conditions and to work himself into the tournament a bit more.

It’s something that Murray will likely want to do, based on his comments after the match.

“The ball's flying through the air a little bit quicker, so the ball is coming onto you faster than what it was the last few days,” he said. “Maybe wasn't reacting as quickly as I would have liked. But, yeah, maybe also nerves there first round as well. It's maybe normal to feel a little bit slow on your feet or a bit heavy-legged in the first round.”


Murray struck 25 winners against 46 for Marchenko, but the World No.1 was able to break six times on eight opportunities—his return game is a lifeline even when he’s not in the tidiest of form.

Overall it was a good start for Murray, and besides, it’s about how you finish at the Grand Slams, anyway. Having been to the final five times but never emerged with the trophy, Murray knows that better than anyone else.

 

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