Andy Murray on Thursday qualified for the 2nd round of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 in California thanks to his win 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4 in more than three hours over the Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
It was in exactly 3 h 12 min that Murray, who remains on a lost final in Doha, ended up overthrowing his opponent. It could have happened quicker, had he converted his set point at 6-5 in the first set.
The Scot managed to find the mental resources to quickly equalis, with a two-break lead in the second set despite losing the tiebreaker.
He had to be more patient in the end, eventually taking the service of the Argentinian on his seventh attempt.
“I’ve been fighting my hardest. I really want to make the most of these last years that I’ve got.” Murray said.
“I’ve managed to fight through some brutal matches. It’s been incredible really.
“I don’t want it to stop. I know it will at some stage but while it’s going like this, I might as well enjoy it.” Murray added.
Due to a severe hip injury that needed a metal prosthetic in 2019, many believed he was done playing tennis.
However, the former world No. 1 keeps trying his hardest to get back to his peak performance that of a three-time Grand Slam champion: United States Open 2012, Wimbledon 2013, 2016.
The 35-year-old will now face 15th-seeded Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta in the next round.
Dominic Thiem has out in the first round. The 29-year-old Austrian lost to France’s Adrian Mannarino in an even match, 4-6, 6-4 7-6. In the second round, Mannarino faces the Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
While the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro was another one who also said goodbye at his debut. The experienced Argentine Guido Pella entered with a protected ranking and advanced. Score of 3-6 7-5 7-2. His next rival will be the Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
