Murray overcomes Hanfmann challenge in Swiss Indoors opener

BASEL: The former No. 1 Andy Murray defeated German Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 6-4 to reach the second round at the Swiss Indoors Basel, snapping a three-match losing streak.

The Brit will next face Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who ousted eighth seed Sebastian Korda 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

This is Murray’s third appearance at the ATP 500 event. He reached the second round last year and had not previously played in Basel since 2005.

Elsewhere, Jan-Lennard Struff snapped a four-match losing streak on Monday, when he eliminated American Christopher Eubanks 7-6(7), 6-4.

The big-serving German saved one set point in the first-set tie-break at 6/7 before he won 88 per cent (15/17) of points behind his first serve in the second set to earn his first Top 50 hard-court win of the season after one hour and 36 minutes. He will next play fourth-seed Hubert Hurkacz or Serbian Dusan Lajovic.

On the other hand, Dutch qualifier Botic van de Zandschulp battled past former World No. 9 Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 6-7(3), 6-2. The 28-year-old converted six of his 16 break points to set a second-round match against sixth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime or another wild card, home favourite Leandro Riedi.

In other action, Sebastian Baez clawed past Christopher O’Connell 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 to improve to 2-0 in the pair’s ATP Head-to-Head series. The Argentine Baez captured his first title on hard courts in Winston-Salem in August.

The 22-year-old will next meet top seed Holger Rune or Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. Rune is currently eighth in the ATP Live Race To Turin and will seek a deep run in Basel to boost his Nitto ATP Finals qualification hopes. (IANS)

Also Read:Murray crashes out in the last 16 of the ATP Zhuhai Championships

Also Watch: