Andy Murray advanced to the second round of an ATP Challenger event in Bordeaux when Kyrian Jacquet retired at the opening of the second set.
Murray was ahead 7-5, 2-0, when Frenchman Jacquet, the world number 219, declared he couldn’t go on. The Briton was making his comeback from ruptured ankle ligaments sustained at the Miami Open in March.
“I thought I did quite well,” Murray stated following the victory. “It must be difficult to recover after an injury.
My ankle feels great. It was a significant injury, but the rehabilitation far above my and my team’s expectations. “I worked really, really hard on my rehabilitation. I practiced it every day since I returned from Miami to attempt to go back as soon as possible. I’m happy with how things are going. Let’s see, maybe I can keep going.”
Despite the heartbreak of an early ending, the Bordeaux crowd sang Murray ‘Happy Birthday’ at the end of the match on his 37th birthday. He will face Gregoire Barrere in the following round, after the Frenchman defeated Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6 6-2. Murray chose not to have surgery on his ankle injury in order to shorten his recuperation period in preparation for the French Open, Wimbledon, and the Paris Olympics later this summer.
“I want to play in the French Open again. “I always enjoy playing at Roland Garros; it’s a special tournament,” Murray remarked. “Of the four Grand Slams, this was the most challenging because clay has always been my most difficult surface. “I came really close one year [losing to Novak Djokovic in 2016 final], and it would have been my biggest achievement if I could have won there, so it’s great to have a chance to play there.” The three-time Grand Slam champion says he does not intend to play “much beyond this summer,” but has not announced where his final tournament will be.
The three-time Grand Slam champion says he does not intend to play “much beyond this summer,” but has not announced where his final tournament will be. British number three Dan Evans, seeded fifth, advanced to the second round after defeating France’s Hugo Grenier 6-4, 6-4.
