US Open 2022 LIVE: Andy Murray beats Francisco Cerundolo in straight sets to reach second round

The Brit plays his first-round match 10 years on from winning his maiden grand slam title at Flushing Meadows

Andy Murray in action during the first round of the US Open (Getty Images)

Andy Murray made a positive start to his US Open campaign with a straight-sets victory over 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo in New York.

The 35-year-old went into the tournament having only won one match on the North American hard courts this season and with concerns over persistent cramping but this proved to be a relatively straightforward outing in humid conditions.

Argentinian Cerundolo has won the majority of his ranking points on clay and Murray had to grind his way through plenty of long rallies on his way to a 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory, with the only real negative a failure to serve out all three sets.

Andy Murray vs Francisco Cerundolo

• Andy Murray begins his US Open campaign against 24th seed Francisco Cerundolo
• Murray clinches draining first set 7-5
• Murray takes second set 6-3 to close in on victory
• Murray closes out straight sets win 7-5, 6-3, 6-3

[29 August 2022 18:18 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3, 2-0 *Francisco Cerundolo

Murray wins the second game and is cruising here at the Louis Armstrong Stadium. Elsewhere Britain’s Kyle Edmund is up against French Open finallist Casper Ruud, who is a break up in the first set.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 18:09 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray* 7-5, 6-3, 1-0 Francisco Cerundolo

Some early mistakes by Cerundolo sees Murray quickly earn a break point, but he launches a forehand long to make it deuce. Cerundolo hits the net to give up another break point, and this time it is the 24-seed who hits long, giving Murray an early break.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 18:02 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Murray wins the second set! Andy Murray 7-5, 6-3 *Francisco Cerundolo

A couple of unforced errors allow Murray to race into a 30-0 lead before Cerundolo pulls a point back. But Murray slams an unreturnable serve down the T to earn himself two set points, and he only needs one as the Argentine hits a backhand wide.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 18:00 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray* 7-5, 5-3 Francisco Cerundolo

Cerundolo holds, and Murray will have another chance to serve for the second set.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 17:53 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray 7-5, 5-2 *Francisco Cerundolo

Much better, this, by Cerundolo. Perhaps that ace at the end of the previous game jolted him a little because he comes out firing in this game, bringing an error from Murray to win the first point before dominating the second from the baseline which he wraps up with a powerful crosscourt winner. Murray saves one break point but can’t repeat the trick, and Cerundolo deservedly breaks back.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 17:47 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray* 7-5, 5-1 Francisco Cerundolo

Cerundolo gets 15-0 but then drops in a double-fault – the Argentine 24th seed is a talented player but his fundamentals seem to have deserted him in this set. He does at least manage to muddle through this game, finishing with an ace, to get a game on the board.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 17:45 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray 7-5, 5-0 *Francisco Cerundolo

Excellent again from Murray, clinically serving out another game to 15 to move within one more of a two-set lead.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 17:43 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray* 7-5, 4-0 Francisco Cerundolo

Murray’s backhand return is flowing and he powers to another break of serve, to 30.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 17:36 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray 7-5, 3-0 *Francisco Cerundolo

A lovely crosscourt pass on the run earns Cerundolo the first point of the game but he lets Murray back to 30-30 with a slap into the net, and looks frustrated. Murray gets over the line to back up his break.

*denotes next to serve.

[29 August 2022 17:29 · Lawrence Ostlere]

Andy Murray* 7-5, 2-0 Francisco Cerundolo

Murray races to 0-40 against a now wounded-looking Cerundolo wilting in the heat, before a thrilling rally which ends with Murray rushing to the net and dumping a volley on to his own toes. But a moment later it’s game as Murray pounces on a weak second serve and batters it deep, which the Argentine can only chop into the net. A quick break in this second set, and Murray now has real control.

*denotes next to serve.