Andy Murray makes clinical start to grass court season with Surbiton Trophy first round win

James Richardson 05 Jun 2023 4:22 PM

Andy Murray reaction

Andy Murray eased to a 6-3 6-2 Surbiton Trophy first round win over Hyeon Chung powered by a pinpoint serve that gave the Brit command of the match from the outset.

Murray had eschewed French Open entry in favour of getting into the best possible shape for a good tilt at Wimbledon.

Unsure if he could still win the event, Murray has backed himself to make it to the second week of the grass court Grand Slam.

It took just 72 minutes for Murray to blow past the former world No 19 and book a place in the second round of the ATP Challenger 175 event.

Murray looked a totally different player from the man who struggled for a match win on clay outside of his Challenger title run in Provence.

Back on grass, Murray looked imperious in eliminating a player who has reached the last four of a Grand Slam.

Former top 20 player Chung has had his own injury woes of late with the 27-year-old a rare sight on the ATP Tour.

Murray will face either British qualifier Harry Wendelken or China’s Bu Yunchaokete in the next round.

Wendelken will have extra incentive to set up a dream match for any young British player.

The former world No 19 had a strong start, but after a nervous double fault and subsequent error, Chung’s recent lack of match play became apparent, allowing the former world No 1 the early break and a 3-1 lead.

Murray displayed his expertise the entire time and appeared to be at ease on the surface on which he has won an Olympic gold medal and two Grand Slam titles. He won the first set in short order and got the second off to a rapid start as well.

After breaking in the first game, Murray’s play was rather simple. He capped a strong first round performance with a pair of aces to finish the match in an hour and 12 minutes.

Murray has been cautiously optimistic about his chances at Wimbledon.

“My feeling on Wimbledon is that less players play well on grass,” Murray said earlier this year. “More of the guys are comfortable on the hard courts and that probably increases my chances.

“I’m not saying I would expect to win the French Open if I played, but with Wimbledon there is certainly a better opportunity to have a deep run.”

“But I also really like the way that I’ve trained in practice these last four months and I’ve not been doing that with Wimbledon in mind. I’m trying to just focus on each day and trying to get the most out of it.

“If I do that and accumulate enough of those days, then I believe that come Wimbledon my game will be in a really, really good place.”