By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday August 12, 2019
Andy Murray fell in straight sets to Richard Gasquet in his first singles match in nearly seven months.
Photo Source: Rob Carr/Getty
Andy Murray returned to the singles court for the first time since January 14 on Monday in Cincinnati, but the two-time Western and Southern Open could not shake the rust free and fell to Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-4 in one hour and 36 minutes.
Gasquet, who is in the midst of his own comeback after undergoing groin surgery in January, snapped a five-match losing streak to Murray and improved to 4-8 lifetime against the two-time Cincinnati champion.
“I think I did okay,” Murray told reporters after the match. “I think there was a lot of things I would like to have done better in the match, but you also have to be somewhat realistic, as well, in terms of what you can expect in terms of how you actually play and hit the ball.”
Gasquet was in control of things throughout the contest and he repeatedly took Murray to task with his drop shot, which he continued to dispatch in to Murray’s forehand side with great success.
"Of course it's normal," Gasquet said of Murray's form. "It's his first match. Before, you know, impossible to do a winner against him. Now it's a little bit different. It's normal because it's his first match."
Gasquet saved four of five break points and won 33 of 41 first-serve points to keep Murray at bay.
Murray was broken in his first service game of the match but quickly broke back to get to 2-all in the opening set.
Gasquet broke critically for 4-3 by wrenching a forehand crosscourt winner and he held in his next two service games of the set.
The Frenchman broke immediately in the second set as well and he did not need a second break as he saved both break points he faced and served out the match, battling from 15-30 to win the final three points of the match.
"He could break me many times in the second set," Gasquet said. "So even with this, you know, he's still a great competitor. That's why you're still scared when you face him. You know, I know it's still Andy Murray, you know."
Gasquet advances to face Dominic Thiem in the second round at Cincinnati.
After the match Murray confirmed that he will not be playing U.S. Open singles.
“I'm not going to play the US Open singles,” he said. “You know, we were hoping to maybe hold a wildcard until a little bit close to the time to see how I feel and get some matches hopefully and a bit of practice, but they were announcing the wildcards today and didn't want to w