Andy Murray secured a second successive victory at the Miami Open to progress to the third round after beating Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(0) 6-3 on Saturday. The match was postponed on Friday after heavy rainfall, but Murray continued his brilliant form to eliminate the 29th seed. Elsewhere, Jack Draper was narrowly beaten by Nicolas Jarry and an American trio bowed out of their home tournament.
Andy Murray ended a long wait for back-to-back wins after he beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry 7-6(0) 6-3 to progress to the third round of the Miami Open on Saturday.
After the match was suspended in the first set on Friday due to rain, play eventually resumed with the pair locked at 3-3 the following day.
The Argentine earned a 6-5 lead, but Murray held brilliantly to love in the final game to take the set to a tiebreak, which he sealed emphatically.
In a dominant finish to the set, Murray earned six set points when he built a 6-0 lead and concluded a tiebreak whitewash by winning the seventh and final point.
Following a tightly contested start to the second set, the Scotsman landed an almost perfect lob over Etcheverry to earn a break point but failed to make the most of his chance.
An unforced error from his opponent gave him a second crack at a break, which he duly converted for a 4-2 lead.
A double fault of his own saw Murray fall 15-30 behind in the following game, and then Etcheverry had the chance to break straight back when Murray returned his drop shot into the net.
However, the 36-year-old saved it with an ace, before firing another couple of aces straight past Etcheverry for the hat-trick and a 5-2 lead.
After Etcheverry held the next game, Murray managed to see out the match for a stunning victory where he saved all seven break points he faced in an aggressive performance.
Jack Draper was narrowly beaten by Nicolas Jarry following over three-and-a-half hours of action.
Despite visibly struggling in the humid Miami conditions, Draper held on to force a third set tiebreak but had used up the last of his energy as the Chilean wrapped up a 7-6(5) 4-6 7-6(2) win.
After the pair held for most of the opening set, Draper finally earned break point against his 6ft 6in opponent in the eighth game.
He sealed the break point to earn himself the chance to serve for the opener, but Jarry immediately hit back with a break of his own after a string of costly errors from the Brit.
A tiebreak was needed to conclude the set and after Draper fought from 3-1 behind to draw level with five points each, the Chilean narrowly wrapped up the opening set for the early advantage.
Draper fought back to level the match, winning 6-4 to force a decider as his energy levels began to deteriorate.
However, the 22-year-old battled through the third set and even led 5-4, 40-15 at one stage before running out of steam.
He managed to hold on to take the set to a tiebreak, but that was as far as he could go as Jarry comfortably sealed victory with Draper physically beaten.
Meanwhile, it was a day to forget in Miami for America’s hopeful trio of Taylor Fritz, Francis Tiafoe and Tommy Paul, who all bowed out in the third round.
Home favourite Taylor Fritz was beaten 6-3 6-4 by Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild, while Tiafoe also lost in straight sets to Australian Christopher O’Connell.
Paul was forced to retire after he pulled up with an injury in the second set of his match with Martin Damm, as his compatriot progressed.
Elsewhere, Stefanos Tsitsipas was also on the wrong side of a straight-set result, as Denis Shapovalov progressed 6-2 6-4.
Top 10 player Casper Ruud needed three sets to get past Luca Van Assche after a 6-1 second set defeat, but replicated his French counterpart’s effort in the decider to win 7-6(5) 1-6 6-1.
No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev made light work of Marton Fucsovics and won 6-4 6-2 to book his spot in the next round.
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