Andy Murray Stunned at Rafa Nadal Challenger Event

While the elite tennis players of the world are hitting the tennis balls in Flushing Meadows, New York, the three-time Grand Slam champion, Andy Murray decided to feature at Rafa Nadal Open 2019 in Mallorca, Spain.

The Brit, Andy Murray lost 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(3) to the World Number 240, Matteo Viola. In the second set, Murray dropped his serve thrice, later, committed a double fault on the match point in the final-set tie-break.

In the third set, the former World Number one, Murray availed two medical time-outs and treated his left thigh. Later, he revealed that it was due to cramping, fatigue and he needs to work upon his fitness.

“Yeah, it was good, I enjoyed it. I would have liked to have played more matches but it was good, I played two competitive matches,” Andy Murray said.

World Number two, Rafael Nadal was delighted with Murray’s participation in his hometown event. The Spaniard was glad to know about the huge gathering of tennis fans in his Challenger Tour event. 

Andy Murray won two matches in Mallorca’s Challenger event and gained his first-round victory, 6-0, 6-1 against Imran Sibille. It was his second singles win of this season. His first victory of 2019 came against James Duckworth in Brisbane in the month of January.

Andy Murray decided to step down from this month’s Grand Slam event, US Open 2019 because the Brit cannot play best of five-set matches at the moment. The Cincinnati Open 2019 was supposed to witness the reunion of ‘Big Four’ of tennis, and with Rafael Nadal pulling out from the tournament their gathering was annulled.

It was Murray’s third singles appearance on the ATP circuit following his hip surgery in January. Earlier, he participated in Cincinnati Open and Winston-Salem Open in the United States of America.