Cincinnati (USA) (AFP)

Andy Murray missed his return to singles competition by being eliminated in the first round of the Masters 1000 Cincinnati tournament by Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4, Monday, seven months after his last match at the Open. Australia.

"I think I played well, but there were so many things that I would have liked to do better during the match, but you have to be realistic in terms of the result that I can hope for," commented Murray, former N .1 global today only 324th.

Gasquet "used all the angles of the court and he is one of the best in the field, so I had to move a lot laterally, while not being able to move as well (towards the net). I did not even run, I had no reaction, but it had nothing to do with my hip, it was just me who did not run to the ball, I did it a little better towards the end of the match ", added the Scotsman.

Murray had already made a comeback in doubles competition, including the Queen's grass tournament, which was joined by Spaniard Feliciano Lopez.

But for his first singles match, the double Olympic champion (2012, 2016) and triple Grand Slam winner (US Open 2012 and Wimbledon 2013 and 2016) seemed slow and lacking in power, allowing Gasquet to have everything the time to prepare his shots. He was then led 2-0.

But little by little, the Scotsman regained his sensations and his tennis to match the French even leading 3-2 before losing his service again in the 7th game and let Gasquet fly to the first set win .

- "He's still Andy Murray" -

Rebelote in the second run: Led 2-0, Murray first came back to 2-1, then 3-2, 4-3, and 5-4. He also took advantage of the inconstancy of Gasquet service, like the sixth game that the French ended up winning despite two double faults. But, at the end of the match, we felt tired and his shots lacked accuracy. Despite a last burst, he could not prevent Gasquet to conclude after 1h37 game.

"In the second set, he started to play better, to return better too, we had good exchanges, it was difficult for me because he could have taken my services several times in the second set. He's still a big competitor, so we're always scared of him when we face him, I know he's still Andy Murray, "Gasquet responded.

Despite his defeat, linked above all to his lack of pace and competition, the British still showed some great sequences, not hesitating to go to the net or to try amortization. At times, he gave the impression of having found the tennis that allowed him to conquer three major titles and two Olympic gold medals. As in the 4th game of the second set where, led 40-0, he lined three beautiful shots to tie at 40-40.

On January 14, Andy Murray played his last singles in the first round of the Australian Open, losing in five sets (6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (7/5), 6-7 ( 7/4), 6-2) after a stunning fight against the Spaniard Roberto Bautista, despite a right hip that made him suffer for two years. At the end of January, he underwent a second surgery on his hip and then suggested that his career was over.

He made his comeback double in mid-June before going into singles in Cincinnati on Monday.

© 2019 AFP