Andy Murray news: Former world No 1 determined to raise his level and ‘make it difficult’ for rivals

ATP Tour
Andy Murray

He managed to dictate things quite nicely during his victory over Taro Daniel in the first round of the Qatar Open, and now Andy Murray is hoping to go up another gear when he takes on Roberto Bautista Agut.

Just weeks after he was stunned by Daniel in the second round of the Australian Open, Murray gained some revenge as he beat the Japanese star 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 20 minutes.

Murray broke twice in the first set and three times in the second set, although Daniel did get one break in the second set, but it was a far cry from the 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 drubbing he suffered at Melbourne Park.

“I tried to be the one dictating from the first point and I thought I did that well. It was one of the better matches I’ve played in recent months,” he said of Tuesday victory.

The former world No 1 is gaining some form as he also won his opener against Alexander Bublik in Rotterdam last week and now he hopes to take it up another notch in the second round in Doha.

He faces a tricky opponent in Bautista Agut as the Spaniard is seeded second, but the three-time Grand Slam winner does lead their head-to-head count 3-1.

“Obviously the results from 12 years ago aren’t going to affect the results this week,” Murray, who won the tournament in 2008 and 2009, said.

“But what it tells me is that the conditions here are good for my game, so if I can play to a good level the courts are going to suit me here and I’ll make it difficult for everyone I play against.”

Andy Murray Roberto Bautista Agut Taro Daniel

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