Pouille outlasts Murray in Cincinnati opener

Wednesday, 15 August 2018 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Reuters: Andy Murray’s comeback following hip surgery hit another roadblock on Monday after he was beaten 6-1 1-6 6-4 by France’s Lucas Pouille in the first round of the Cincinnati Open.

The Scot went under the knife in January but has had a frustrating time since he came back to the ATP circuit in June.

The former world number one had hoped to build on the momentum that had carried him into the quarter-finals of the Citi Open before he pulled out of the Washington tournament citing fatigue.

But it was world number 17 Pouille who proved to be the more resourceful as he claimed his first win in five tries against Murray. Murray, whose ranking plummeted into the 800s last month but has now risen to 375, has fallen at the first hurdle in two of the four tournaments he has contested this year.