Andy Murray handed brutal reality check in Canadian Open mauling
Andy Murray has been dealt a savage reality check ahead of the US Open after being destroyed by Taylor Fritz in straight sets at the Canadian Open.
The British wildcard was no match for the big-hitting American, who cantered into the second round courtesy of a commanding 6-1, 6-3 win.
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It was a brutal statement victory from the 24-year-old American, whose power and precision got the better of an increasingly frustrated Murray.
The British three-time champion - who last won the Canadian Open in 2015, following earlier victories in 2009 and 2010 - smashed his racquet on the court several times during the contest.
Murray was overwhelmed by the 10th seed’s power in the first set, before a brief fight back in the second stanza.
However, any hopes the 35-year-old had of forcing a deciding set were quickly extinguished by the impressive Fritz.
The straight sets domination from Fritz marked the first career win for the American at the Canadian Open.
"It’s an honour to be on the court with Andy,” Fritz said in his on-court interview.
“Just to get the chance to play him, he’s been around, he’s been dominating since before I came on Tour and basically the whole time I’ve been on Tour, so it’s an honour just to play him.”
For Murray, the loss is a devastating blow to his chances of securing a seeding at the US Open, with the 48th ranked Brit admitting before the tournament that he needed a good run in Toronto.
“It’s still possible," Murray admitted. "I would just need to have a good run in Canada or Cincinnati really.
Murray also bowed out in the first set of the Citi Open to Sweden's Mikael Ymer, with his latest loss in Toronto leaving fans gutted for the former champion.
First @OBNmontreal win for the American! 💪@Taylor_Fritz97 gets past Andy Murray 6-1, 6-3 to advance in Montreal! ⚡️#OBN22 pic.twitter.com/gYoNwXqaoc
— ATP Tour (@atptour) August 10, 2022
@andy_murray please for the love of god retire Andy - heartbreaking to see you lose so many matches. Return and serve just really poor now.
— Claybot (@Wall_Ant_11899) August 10, 2022
During the last hour, Taylor Fritz was on the top of the ball, beating Andy Murray 6-1, 6-3. He just played so much better, with few errors. With Murray, who has won three Grand Slams, he was so consistent, but now he is so-so. He has a lot to do pic.twitter.com/uHMVG2Jhd2
— Matt Cronin (@TennisReporters) August 10, 2022
"Didn't do that much wrong, Andy Murray!"
I hate to say that I disagree but I do. In fact, I thought he was really pretty flat against an admittedly very good Taylor Fritz.— Scott Barclay (@BarclayCard18) August 10, 2022
what a dominant showing from taylor fritz. beating andy murray 6-1, 6-3 is no joke. the american looks good. #ATPMontreal
— Kyron Samuels (@kyronsamuels) August 10, 2022
Andy Murray — tough match. Fritz played out of his mind. Sorry, Andy.
— MamaLawyer 🌻🇺🇦 (@MamaLawyer3) August 10, 2022
Taylor Fritz just dominated Andy Murray. Very impressive performance from the American. 🎾🎾
— Dustin Fox (@DustinFox37) August 10, 2022
Honestly, at this point, it’s sad watching Andy Murray. He’s a shell.
— Chris Barker (@CBarker81) August 10, 2022
Nick Kyrgios to face Daniil Medvedev in 2nd round
Elsewhere, Australia’s Nick Kyrgios advanced to the second round at the Canadian Open after beating Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-4, 6-4 to set up a second-round showdown with top-ranked Daniil Medvedev.
Kyrgios is coming off a victory at last week's Citi Open in Washington, where he ended a three-year title drought by winning his seventh career tour-level singles championship. That victory follows a runner-up finish at Wimbledon, where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Medvedev, the event's defending champion who received a first-round bye as a top seed, is scheduled to face Kyrgios in Toronto on Wednesday.
In other first-round action, Marin Cilic, the No. 13 seed, defeated fellow Croatian Borna Coric 6-3, 6-2.
Other seeded players to advance were No. 14 Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain and No. 17 Gael Monfils of France.
Aussie Alex de Minaur beat Denis Shapovalov of Canada 7-5, 7-6 (4) in a match that was suspended by rain on Monday.
Also, American Tommy Paul beat Canada’s Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4, and Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, the No. 15 seed, posted a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Canadian wild-card entry Alexis Galarneau.
While Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta produced one of the shocks of the day after downing 11th-seeded Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-2.
with agencies
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