Welcome back to Flushing Meadows for live coverage of Andy Murray’s US Open third-round tie against Matteo Berrettini, the Italian 13th seed.
After the disappointment of Emma Radacanu’s first-round exit, Murray and his cohorts have taken it upon themselves to give British tennis fans something to shout about and, for the first time in the Open era, four Brits: Murray, Cam Norrie, Jack Draper and Dan Evans – will play in the third round of the US Open.
Murray was champion here in 2012 – his first Grand Slam title – and while he is now well below the player he was a decade ago, he has recently shown signs of finding the kind of form that could spark a deep run . a great tournament like this.
The undisputed great of British tennis has been reduced to this point with two solid victories. A first-round win against Argentine top seed Francisco Cerúndolo came with minimal fanfare, before a four-set victory over 20-year-old American Emilio Nava.
During his injury-plagued spell in the late 2010s, these results would have been highlight wins for the Scot, so it’s a testament to his rediscovered form that he has overcome them with such ease.
Things are about to get harder, much harder. Matteo Berrettini is one of the world’s most exciting young players and was among the favorites for Wimbledon this year before an unfortunately timed bout of Covid.