Mirnyi challenge ended by Murray
Andy Murray is looking to end his season on a high note
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Tuesday, 23, Oct 2007 03:04
British number one Andy Murray has beaten Belarusian Max Mirnyi in straight sets in the first round of the St Petersburg Open.
The 20-year-old took just 52 minutes to dispatch his senior opponent 6-2 6-2, breaking serve on four separate occasions.
The world number 121 - a quarter-finalist here last year - was broken twice in the first set as Murray took advantage of his only two opportunities. The Belarusian was also broken twice more in the second set.
And Mirnyi, a former top 20 player when he was ranked at 18 in August 2003, could not cope with Murray's explosive groundstrokes and similarly failed to make any inroads into the young Scot's rejuvenated serve.
The Scot, who won the only previous meeting between the two at the Nottingham Open in 2006, looked back to his best after a mid-season wrist injury that ruled him out of action for three months, winning nearly half of all points played when receiving serve.
Murray is looking to continue his recent resurgence that saw him reach the final of the Moselle Open in Metz, France, where he lost to world number nine Tommy Robredo.
He also looked impressive on his way to the round of 16 at the Madrid Masters last week before losing to world number two Rafael Nadal.