Andy Murray secured his 700th ATP Tour win by beating Taro Daniel at Indian Wells. This milestone is a reminder of how the Brit has dominated tennis since turning pro in 2005, and it will be interesting to see how long he can keep up this streak before retirement.
Andy Murray beat Taro Daniel of Japan at the ATP Indian Wells Masters to secure his 700th career win. The British tennis player has now won the tournament in seven different decades.
Following the Miami Masters, Andy Murray is reuniting with longtime coach Ivan Lendl.
Andy Murray came back from a set down to defeat Taro Daniel 1-6 6-2 6-4 in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters, giving him his 700th ATP Tour victory.
Daniel won the opening set in 28 minutes after the Briton missed two break opportunities in the third game.
A more assertive tone Murray won the second set before losing his serve in the opening game of the tiebreaker.
Murray recovered, leveled the match at 3-3 with a superb forehand, and then broke Daniel at 5-4 to win.
In the following round, he will face Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik, the world number 33.
“It means a lot,” Murray said of achieving 700 victories.
“Even four or five years ago, I didn’t have aspirations like that, but with what’s transpired in the previous few years, these are like tiny milestones.”
“My aim at the conclusion of last year was to go to 800 match victories, but first and foremost, let’s get to 700.”
“It’s probably achievable if I win 40-50 matches over the next couple of years, like I did in my greatest years when I was winning 65-80 matches. I guess I’ve won nine games this year, and I’m not playing very well.”
Murray was facing Japan’s Daniel for the third time this year.
Before Murray won the Qatar Open, Daniel triumphed in the second round of the Australian Open.
Meanwhile, Liam Broady was knocked out in the first round against Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic, losing 6-4 4-6 6-4.
‘Daniel came out pretty hot,’ says the author.
California is ranked 88th in the world. Murray’s inability to convert either of the two break opportunities in the third game of the opening set seemed to boost Daniel’s confidence. Daniel is ranked 106th in the world.
Daniel broke Murray to love in his next two service games to take a 5-1 lead, and he was making Murray appear sluggish as he served out the first set in 28 minutes.
Murray retaliated by breaking his opponent in the opening game of the following set, then pumping his fist after gaining a double break to go up 4-0.
Murray’s racquet was producing more wins as he benefited from a more upbeat attitude, and he won the second set to tie the match.
Murray tossed his hat down in despair after losing a fourth service game to love in the opening game of the final and sent a high volley wide in the fifth game.
But he recovered his calm and used a forehand winner to tie the match at 3-3.
Murray survived a break opportunity in the ninth game with a daring second serve that was too much for Daniel to handle, and he erupted in applause as he held to go up 5-4.
Daniel, who had utterly missed a smash in the first set, shanked another on the opening point of the second set as he served to remain in the match, and although he survived two match chances, he was unable to save a third as Murray prevailed in one hour and 58 minutes.
“In the qualifications, he [Daniel] had a few of matches and he came out incredibly hot, but I was giving him the chance by leaving the ball short,” Murray said.
“As the game progressed, I got closer to the baseline, improved my timing, and figured it out. It wasn’t an easy task.”
After the Miami Masters later this month, Murray will reunite with longtime coach Ivan Lendl.
“He [Lendl] said good luck today, and that’s exactly what I received,” Murray said.
“We’ve had a few conversations in the previous several weeks. After Miami, we’ll formally begin. We’re hoping he’ll be able to accompany me to the competition and witness my bouts.”
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