• Shanghai Masters

Murray to open up against Tursunov

ESPN staff
October 11, 2011
Dmitry Tursunov leans into a backhand © Getty Images
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Andy Murray is likely to be at a fitness advantage when he opens his Shanghai Masters challenge, as his opponent Dmitry Tursunov had to come through a three-set epic against Thomaz Bellucci in the first round.

With Murray receiving a bye into the second round, he has been able to put his feet up and bask in the glory of his brilliant victory over Rafael Nadal in Japan on Sunday. And he will have been thrilled to see Tursunov and Bellucci slug it out for the best part of two-and-three-quarter hours.

Breaks of serve were traded in the opening set, which went Bellucci's way via a tense tiebreak. Tursunov regrouped to take the second set - with his error count dipping.

Both players were much improved on serve in the final set, but it was Tursunov who worked the only break before serving out to claim a 6-7(5) 6-4 7-5 victory. The Russian was soon back on court, where he teamed up with Spaniard Tommy Robredo as the pair won their opening doubles match.

Tursunov will face second seed Murray on Wednesday, with Stanislas Wawrinka waiting in the third round after the No. 13 seed came from behind to beat Donald Young 6-7(5) 7-6(2) 6-2.

Feliciano Lopez showed the greater steel in the tiebreaks as he claimed a 7-6(2) 7-6(3) win over Janko Tipsarevic.

The 14th seed Jurgen Melzer eased past Ivan Ljubicic, while Kei Nishikori overcame being bageled in the first set to beat Robin Haase 0-6 7-5 7-6(5).

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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