US Open: Andy Murray makes emphatic statement as he crushes Lukas Rosol in first round in New York
With Novak Djokovic plagued by injury problems, the Wimbledon champion laid down a marker in his opening match
ANDY MURRAY didn’t actually stare into the TV camera and sing: “Are you watching, Novak Djokovic?”
Not quite his style. And not really necessary.
Because the statement Murray made with the destruction of Lukas Rosol was as eloquent as Djokovic’s walk on the weird side the previous evening.
The British No 1 showed why he is the favourite to take Djokovic’s US Open title with an absolute masterclass.
Murray took Rosol apart 6-3 6-2 6-2 and was unplayable at times, especially early in the second set.
He did not give his opponent a single break point to look at and matched the flashy Czech’s 27 winners but Rosol’s unforced error count was 45 to Murray’s 17.
To be honest, it felt like fewer. On-court interviewer Darren Cahill described the performance as “sensational” and in its own clinical and composed way, it was.
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Rosol won the first two points after fabulous rallies. Then Murray steadied the shape, waited for his chance and eased away.
The Scot took his third break point of the sixth game and never looked like yielding the advantage.
Then he blitzed Rosol with some brilliant hitting to race into a 4-0 lead in the second.
And after a tight-ish start to the third, he took the Rosol serve in the fifth and seventh games and finished things off after 112 imperious minutes.
Murray said: “It was a tough start to the match.
“Once I got the break up I started to relax and play well.”
Quite an understatement. Murray’s next opponent, Marcel Granollers, would be forgiven for not fancying his chances on Thursday.