Andy Murray on Wednesday launched his 16th appearance at the Indian Wells Masters with a 6-3, 6-2 defeat of qualifier David Goffin.
Britain’s 2009 finalist in the California desert took 80 minutes to produce a satisfying win to improve to 8-0 against the former top-10 Belgian.
Murray, a three-time Grand Slam champion who said in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, last month that he is unlikely to keep playing beyond this season, swept the final 10 points of the opening set and went up a double break for 5-2 before polishing off the win.
Photo: AP
“I was striking the ball well from the back of the court, it was a solid performance,” said the 36-year-old, ranked 61st. “This could be the best I’ve ever served here. I’ve struggled serving here for at least 10 years. Today felt much better.”
The Scot said that he has always had his troubles at the desert venue, trying various preparation strategies with limited success.
“I’ve tried everything here — I’ve arrived later, I’ve come a week early to get used to conditions and then lost in the first round, but conditions seem different this year,” he said. “The balls are quicker and the court seems a bit smaller at the back.”
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who benefits from a first-round bye, learned the name of his first opponent when Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi beat Frenchman Luca van Assche 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/3).
Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner is to start his tournament against Thanasi Kokkinakis after the Australian defeated Marcus Giron 6-3, 7-5.
In the women’s singles, tennis mother Angelique Kerber, a finalist five years ago, booked a second-round match with a fellow Grand Slam champion.
The 36-year-old German with three titles at the majors beat her first top-100 opponent since returning from maternity leave as she defeated Petra Martic 6-3, 6-4.
Kerber next takes on 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko.
Taiwan suffered its first defeat of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12, losing to defending champion Japan 3-1 at the Taipei Dome last night. Japan’s victory put Taiwan’s score at two wins and one loss in WBSC Premier12 championship Group B play. In the top of the first inning, a sacrifice fly from Japanese batter Shota Morishita allowed Masayuki Kuwahara to score a run on Taiwan’s starter Chen Po-ching (陳柏清). Taiwan’s attempt to catch up in the bottom of the first ended to no avail and an uneventful second inning saw the score
Taiwan last night defeated Cuba 2-0 in their World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 Group B game at the Taipei Dome and finished the group second. At the Taipei Tianmu Baseball Stadium, South Korea yesterday defeated Australia 5-2, while Japan last night won 11-3 against the Dominican Republic. On Sunday, Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome to advance to the Super Round. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champions and Group B winners Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the
Taiwan scored two three-run homers in an 11-3 blowout win over Australia at the Taipei Dome last night to advance to the Super Round of the 2024 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC) Premier12 tournament. Fresh off a defeat at the hands of defending Premier12 champion and Group B winner Japan the previous day, Taiwan’s offense came out slugging against Australia from the off. After taking a walk to first base, Taiwan’s Chen Chieh- hsien (陳傑憲) then stole second before Tseng Song-en (曾頌恩) drew a walk to first in the top of the first inning. Chen then
BIG EVENT: US president-elect Donald Trump and a slew of potential administration members including Elon Musk and Robert Kennedy Jr were among the audience Jon Jones had just knocked the breath out of the heavyweight challenger he pummeled into retirement when UFC’s greatest fighter broke out a herky-jerky dance inside the cage and dedicated the groove to US president-elect Donald Trump. As a defeated Stipe Miocic gamely tried to recover on all fours, Jones posed and played to the packed crowd on top of the cage and even had a gift for his favorite fan in the front row — Trump for a few moments clutched the UFC heavyweight title. Jones and Trump shook hands and capped a fight night charged with politics as
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