It was gone midnight but Andy Murray’s eyes lit up when he was reminded that for the first time since 1987, there were five British players in the second round of the US Open. “That was the year I was born,” he exclaimed, barely an hour after destroying the crude but powerful challenge of Lukas Rosol in the first round, and looking ahead to an altogether trickier engagement against the cultured Spaniard Marcel Granollers on Thursday. Victories for Kyle Edmund and Johanna Konta mean those five in the second round have already become two in the third. It has been a rip-roaring start for the British contingent in New York.
Murray likes to ease himself into any tournament at his own pace but that luxury is not always available at grand slam, where there is much more at stake and contenders everywhere fancy their chances of a shock win or two. Nerves are never far away.
“I still get nervous, especially against a guy like Rosol, who goes for his shots and has caused upsets in the past and made it tough for some of the best players in the world,” Murray said. “I was a bit apprehensive about that. There are always nerves but I’m able to settle down a little bit quicker and I am happy to have won that match.”
As for Granollers, the 30-year-old world No45 whom he has beaten six times out of seven – most recently in straight sets on the hardcourt of Indian Wells this year – Murray said: “No one plays like him really. He comes forward a lot, has great hands and a really good feel.
“ He moves really well and, although he doesn’t have a lot of power from the back of the court, he uses a lot of spin on his forehand and then hits his backhand extremely flat. I’ve known him since we were 12 years old. We grew up in the juniors together and I get on well with him. I think we know each others’ games.”
Murray also revealed he and his coach, Ivan Lendl, have not discussed the specific length of their renewed partnership, something which suggests a relaxed attitude on both sides. “When we spoke before anything was agreed or finalised, Ivan knows how much time it takes to do the job properly. I said I’d be happy to come to him for some training blocks but I haven’t spoken to him about a length of time. I’m happy with Jamie Delgado when Ivan’s not there. The time when Ivan is there, I find him very helpful and I’m happy with how much he is working with me just now.”
As for those compatriots who were still standing at the start of day three, Murray reckons their performances will make Davis Cup selection for the semi-final against Argentina in Glasgow the weekend after the final here, tough for the captain, Leon Smith.
“Sometimes it’s easy when your team picks itself but for the opposition it is a little bit harder to prepare if you don’t know exactly who you are going to play against.
“Leon could potentially pick three singles players and Jamie for doubles. He could go down the route of two doubles and either Kyle [Edmund] or Dan [Evans] for the second singles. It’s a better situation to be in, the more players and options you have the better.”
In 1985, Great Britain were jousting with Portugal, Switzerland and Israel in Europe Zone B. Now they are defending champions. Good times.
