Stuttgart – Former world number one Andy Murray has reached the last 16 of the ATP tournament in Stuttgart.
The British tennis pro won his first-round match against Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 6-3 after initial problems. After trailing 0-3 in the first set, Murray improved against his opponent, who was struggling in the meantime.
This is the 35-year-old’s first appearance at the €769,645 grass-court event at Weissenhof. It serves as preparation for the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon starting on 27 June, which the Scot has already won twice.
Murray, who almost ended his career due to serious hip problems, is only ranked 68th in the world, but in Stuttgart he is one of the most popular players in the field alongside top-seeded Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas. Murray will face Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik in the last 16.
Australian Nick Kyrgios, known for spectacle, provided great entertainment in his first-round win. The Australian beat Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7-3), 6-3. During the match, Kyrgios repeatedly scolded himself, serving the last serve from underneath his own legs.
After the match, the 78th-ranked player reported that some of his luggage had arrived in Stuttgart quite late. It was only on Tuesday that he was able to play with grass shoes for the first time. In the doubles on Monday, which he won alongside Bublik, he had worn clay court shoes.
