Andy Murray finally has something to shout about again as he screams in delight after beating Tomas Etcheverry in straight-sets to reach Miami Open third round
Andy Murray celebrated like he had won a grand slam after beating Tomas Etcheverry 7-6, 6-3 to move into the third round of the Miami Open on Saturday night.
Murray screamed in delight, punched the air and high-fived his team courtside before consoling his Argentine opponent at the net.
It was the first time since last August that he had won back-to-back matches and No 29 seed Etcheverry is the highest-ranked player he has toppled in almost a year.
But it wasn’t all good news for the Brits in Miami as Jack Draper was knocked out in three sets by Nicolas Jarry.
It was easy to understand the 36-year-old Murray’s unbridled joy at his best win in ages, just days after beating former Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini.
Andy Murray let out a huge roar as he claimed victory over Tomas Etcheverry on Saturday in Miami
The Briton won 7-6, 6-3 to move into the third round of the Miami Open
No 29 seed Etcheverry is the highest-ranked player Murray has toppled in almost a year
Murray, striving to clamber back up the rankings in what could well be his final year of competitive tennis, had been humiliated by Etcheverry at the Australian Open in January and was out for revenge.
They resumed at 3-3 after rain had ended their tie early on Friday with the match going to a first set tie-break in which Murray was merciless, producing some vintage tennis to win it in a whitewash.
The second set was just as tight but Murray held his nerve for a stunning victory when he saved all seven break points he faced in an aggressive performance. His win took two hours 16 minutes.
His prize for toppling Etcheverry is a showdown with Czech player Tomas Machac, the world No 60 who stunned fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the second round.
There was no such luck for British No 2 Jack Draper, however, who lost in three sets as he struggled with the Florida humidity
There was to be no such luck for British No 2 Draper, however, who struggled in the Florida humidity as he bowed out 7-6, 4-6, 7-6 to No 22 seed Jarry.
And rising star Draper was devastated to lose having moved 5-4 and 40-15 up in the third set only for his form to desert him at exactly the wrong time.
