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Andy Murray handed brutal reality check in Canadian Open mauling

Andy Murray's US Open preparations were dealt a blow after a first round exit at the Canadian Open. Pic: Getty
Andy Murray's US Open preparations were dealt a blow after a first round exit at the Canadian Open. Pic: Getty

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.

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.

Pictured here, Nick Kyrgios screams in frustration during his first round match at the Canadian Open.
Nick Kyrgios will have his work cut out in a blockbuster second round showdown with Daniil Medvedev at the Canadian Open. Pic: Getty (Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

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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