Andy Murray safely into last 16 at US Open with win over Thomaz Bellucci

06/09/2015

| US Open

Andy Murray set up a repeat of this year’s Aegon Championships final after safely navigating his way past the heavy-hitting Thomaz Bellucci at the US Open.

The British No.1 swept into the last 16 with a 6-3, 6-2, 7-5 victory over James Ward’s conqueror on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and will now tussle with Kevin Anderson on Monday.

Andy MurrayAfter his five-set thriller against Adrian Mannarino earlier in the week Murray enjoyed a less stressful outing in New York this time around and dispatched the Brazilian in little over two hours.

After No.30 seed Bellucci has gone an early break to the good the 2012 champion broke twice to take the opener and twice again in the second to head into a commanding lead.

A tighter third saw Murray nudge ahead at 5-5 before serving it out on his second match point to set up a meeting with the dangerous South African and No.12 seed Anderson.

Murray said: “It was very important. My last match was extremely tough physically and mentally.

“It was much slower conditions today, a bit easier to return and tougher to serve, so because of that there were a lot of long rallies.

"He plays well with confidence when he's ahead. When he got that break early I was a bit worried. He was striking the ball well, thankfully I managed to get the break straight back.”

Did you know?

  • Kevin Anderson tops the aces charts at Flushing Meadows after three matches with 69

Doubles

Dom Inglot and Colin Fleming both progressed into Round 3 with straight-sets wins at Flushing Meadows.

Inglot and Robert Lindstedt edged Denis Istomin and Alexander Bury 7-6(5), 7-6(3) while Fleming and Treat Huey overcame Australian Davis Cup duo Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt 6-3, 6-4.

Three British players in action today looking to reach the quarter-finals:

  • Dom Inglot & R Lindstedt v T Haas & R Stepanek
  • Colin Fleming & T Huey v L Mayer & J Sousa
  • Jamie Murray & J Peers v P Oswald & A Shamasdin

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