Andy Murray started the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Shenzhen with great difficulties. The Scotsman profited from the task of the Chinese Zhizhen Zhang in the third set.
Andy Murray already sees the end of his 2018 season on the horizon, and on his short Asian tour, the former world number one even gives himself his best performance at the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Shanghai – for which he would have needed a wild card anyway as number 308 in the world.
No good news for the organizers in Vienna, who would have guaranteed Murray a free place in the main field of the Vienna Stadthalle if needed.
This week, however, Murray is going to serve again at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Shenzhen. The draw meant it rather half well with the double gold medal winner at the Olympic Games: Murray was allowed to play the rather unknown Zhizhen Zhang at the beginning, and he had a hard time winning 6:3, 6:7 (3) and 4:2 (the Chinese had to give up in the third set). In round two David Goffin is the tournament favourite. Goffin comes directly from Chicago from the Laver Cup, has not overexerted himself there, has contested a singles and a doubles.
The Laver Cup would also be the natural environment for a man like Andy Murray. Last year he was injured, in this yet to get back into shape. Instead, Kyle Edmund represented the British colours, he even saved himself the double, unlike Goffin.
Andy Murray wants to treat himself to a voluntary tournament break after Beijing. And come back stronger. All the points the Scotsman scores before that will benefit him in the coming year. In case of doubt, Murray can also hope for Wild Cards from the organizers, as in Shenzhen.
Here the single tableau in Shenzhen