Final Up to date: January 12, 2023, 15:28 IST
Tennis star Andy Murray (Twitter)
Brit Murray registered a confidence-boosting 6-3, 6-3 conquer Alex de Minaur, whereas Fritz toppled Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/4), 6-1
Andy Murray and Taylor Fritz utilized a ultimate layer of gloss to their pre-Australian Open kind Thursday with straight-sets wins on the Kooyong Traditional.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray scored a confidence-boosting 6-3, 6-3 defeat of Australian world quantity 24 Alex de Minaur, whereas Fritz adopted up on his Workforce USA United Cup title by toppling Alexei Popyrin 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
Murray spent a worthwhile two days at Kooyong, overcoming China’s Zhang Zhizhen on Wednesday.
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“I had a very good degree in right now’s match and a part of yesterday’s,” mentioned the British veteran. “I’m enjoying the tennis I have to attempt to achieve success. The courts require aggressive tennis, the balls shoot by way of.”
Murray, who has solely performed the Melbourne Park main twice within the final 5 editions on account of a pair of hip surgical procedures, mentioned his confidence was rising by the day.
“I just like the situations right here, I’m hitting the ball effectively and shifting effectively. Once I try this my tennis tends to be good,” he mentioned.
“I’ll focus the following couple of days on sustaining and hopefully having a very good run (on the Open).
“Because the US Open, I’ve put in a number of work. If I can get by way of just a few rounds (in Melbourne) I don’t see why I can’t do effectively.”
He could have his work reduce out from spherical one after being drawn in opposition to Italian world quantity 14 Matteo Berrettini.
World quantity 9 Fritz echoed Murray’s sentiments: “It’s good to exit and play in entrance of a crowd,” he mentioned. “It was a pleasant little tune-up.
“I couldn’t have began the 12 months a lot better… successful the United Cup after which having every week to coach and polish.”
The Wimbledon quarter-finalist, who will begin his Australian Open in opposition to Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili, has his eye on main targets for 2023.
“I desire a top-five rating, I desire a large outcome at a Slam — that’s what’s actually lacking proper now,” he mentioned.
“I see myself in a Grand Slam ultimate with the prospect to play for the title. That’s one thing I’ve by no means carried out earlier than. With my degree now I feel I can obtain that.”
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)