Reuters
New York, Sept 4: Flummoxed and frustrated by wily veteran Paolo Lorenzi for two sets, second seed Andy Murray changed tactics and beat the 34-year-old Italian at his own game to advance into the US Open fourth round here Saturday.
Murray was moping and muttering to himself as he pressed for winners against the steady Italian and piled up unforced errors before deciding to patiently play long rallies that enabled him to secure a 7-6 (6-4), 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 win.
The World No.2 Murray committed 47 errors in the first two sets, including 31 off his forehand, and converted only 4-of-12 break points before finding his form in the third set.
The 40th-ranked Lorenzi put up a gritty fight despite coming off a gruelling five-set, five-hour win over French 30th seed Gilles Simon in his second-round tilt. The Scotsman’s harder than expected three-hour 17-minute victory kept his golden summer moving forward after triumphs at Wimbledon and the Rio Olympics.
Lorenzi is also enjoying a stellar season, logging his first victory ever on the ATP Tour, becoming the oldest first-time champion by winning at Kitzbuehel, and adding two semifinals and a quarterfinal to his credit.
Murray advanced to a fourth-round clash with 22nd seed Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, a 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 winner over Joao Sousa of Portugal.
While, Stan Wawrinka faced tough challenge from Great Britain’s Daniel Evans with a hard-fought five-set 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (10-8), 6-2 win, Japan’s Kei Nishikori defeated Mahut Nicolas of France 4-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
A tearful Nick Kyrgios, a dark horse to win the US Open, retired from his third-round match against Ukraine’s Illya Marchenko with a hip injury Saturday, ending the Australian’s bid for a maiden Grand Slam. A limping Kyrgios was trailing 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 when he decided to quit. “It’s tough, I don’t like to retire, that is probably the second or third time I’ve done it,” offered a dejected 14th seed.