Cincinnati (USA) (AFP)

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

Murray, former world No. 1 today only 222e, had already made his return in doubles competition by winning including the grass tournament Queen's, associated with the Spanish 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 .

- Tired... -

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.

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