Australian Max Purcell continues to enjoy his time on grass, booking a second-round clash against Andy Murray at the ATP event in Rhode Island.
Fresh from his Wimbledon doubles title triumph, Australia's Max Purcell has enjoyed singles success in round of 32 action at the ATP event in Newport, Rhode Island.
The 24-year-old wildcard saw off Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-3 1-6 7-5 on Tuesday for his first singles triumph of 2022, and the Sydneysider's reward is a last-16 clash with Andy Murray.
In the only professional tournament played on grass outside of Europe, world No.202 Purcell grinded out the win in two hours seven minutes, breaking Mannarino when leading 6-5 in the deciding set to progress.
Fellow Australian James Duckworth also enjoyed a three-set win, but compatriot Alexei Popyrin was beaten in two.
The eighth-seeded Duckworth sent down 11 aces in defeating British qualifier Liam Broady 6-2 4-6 6-2 and will next face Quentin Halys of France, who beat world No.85 Popyrin 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in one hour 50 minutes.
It took Murray less than 55 minutes to see off Sam Querrey, who had started the match by breaking the three-time grand slam winner's serve in the very first game.
But Murray broke straight back and although the American had two break points in the third game, the Scot was able to hold.
Querrey drew level at 2-2 but had no answer for Murray as he won the next four games without reply to clinch the first set.
And the 35-year-old kept his foot on the gas in the second, winning it 6-0 to move into the next round.
"It's obviously amazing to be back here and playing on this court again after 16 years," Murray said in his on-court interview.
"A lot has happened in that time: four kids, married and all that stuff. But I'm happy to be back.
"Any match that I get to play now I try to make the most of it,.
"I've obviously had a lot of issues with injuries the last four or five years. You never know how close you are to the end, but I'm aware I'm getting towards the end of my career so I make the most of every match and every tournament I get to play now."
With PA.
