Andy Murray advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open today after defeating the American Michael Russell 6-3, 7-5.
Russell served first and rather ominously was broken to love. As Murray fired down three aces in his first service game, the signs were pointing to a potential thrashing. Thankfully for the world number 68 this was not to be as he overcame his nerves and, if not exactly pressurising Murray, at least found a presence on the court.
Despite earning three break points, Russell was unable to break back and at 5-3 crumbled to hand Murray the set.
The second set started in a similar vein to the first. Murray raced to a 3-0 lead before Russell got on the score board to make it 3-1. In increasingly blustery conditions Murray's own serve now deserted him, with the Scot bizarrely hitting three consecutive double faults into the Ad court. A rolled in second serve first up avoided the fourth and Murray eventually held.
Another tame service game at *5-4 saw Russell break back, but Murray immediately regrouped and broke the American to take the set, and match, 7-5.
This was far from a vintage performance but Murray will be happy enough to get through a potentially tricky match in less than two hours.
