Andy Murray came through a gruelling 160-minute first-round match at the Erste Bank Open to eventually beat world number 10 Hubert Hurkacz.
The Scot has lost to a number of the world’s top 10 since the US Open – Hurkacz being one last month in Metz – but after a good start in Vienna he ended up becoming embroiled in a two-hour-40-minute battle with the Polish fifth seed.
Murray blamed a poor attitude for not getting beyond the last 16 in the European Open in Antwerp last week but there was no questioning his commitment on his return to the court.
What a fighter! 💪 @andy_murray gets his first Top 10 win of the season and is through to the next round at the @ErsteBankOpen after defeating Hurkacz 6-4 6-7(6) 6-3! pic.twitter.com/n8O4B4Lh0t
— ATP Tour (@atptour) October 25, 2021
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The first eight games went with serve before the former British number one broke to allow him to take the set 6-4.
With both players holding their serve in the second it went to a tie-break, which Hurkacz won 8-6 thanks to two unforced errors.
Murray enjoyed two service breaks in the deciding set, saving two break points in the ninth game to win 6-4 6-7 (6) 6-3.
