• Farmers Classic

Murray off to a winning start in Los Angeles

ESPN staff
July 29, 2010
Andy Murray gets pumped up on his way past Tim Smyczek © Getty Images
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Andy Murray battled past American Tim Smyczek and into the quarter-finals of the Farmers Classic to mark a successful start to his first ever visit to Los Angeles on Thursday.

Top seed Murray secured a bye to the second round and he's now just three wins away from securing his first win of the year after a 6-1 4-6 6-2 triumph in just under two hours.

Murray was well below his best for portions of the match, landing just 41% of his first serves in on his way to being broken three times in the second set, but he dominated in general play, winning more than half the points when returning against the world No.192.

Murray will next meet Alejandro Falla after he toppled fifth seed Ernests Gulbis 4-6 6-3 7-6 in a thriller. Falla claimed the deciding tie-breaker 10-8 to secure an upset win over the No.28 from Latvia.

Also on Murray's side of the draw, wildcard James Blake made it through with a hard-fought 7-5 7-6 victory over Benjamin Becker. Fourth seed Feliciano Lopez beat Dudi Sela 7-6 6-4 to set up a quarter-final encounter with Blake.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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