It was not easy, but Andy Murray battled to his first hard-court win since 4 March 2017 on Monday evening at the Citi Open.

The former World No. 1 defeated American Mackenzie McDonald 3-6, 6-4, 7-5 after two hours, 37 minutes to clinch his second victory of the season (2-2) in just his third tournament back from hip surgery, which he underwent in January. The Scot advances to face British No. 1 Kyle Edmund in a rematch of their second-round encounter at the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne, won by Edmund.

“It was a tough, tough match,” Murray said. “It could have gone either way. Obviously if you lose a match like that, it’s a tough one. When I lost to [Teymuraz] Gabashvili here [three years ago], I lost serving for the match, so I was thinking about that a little bit, too. It is just nice to get through.”

Murray held five match points while serving for the match for the first time at 5-4 in the third set, but McDonald was steady, breaking back. In the next game at 30/30, when it appeared the American had an easy putaway volley to earn a game point, he was called for reaching over the net, giving the Scot break point. After converting that, Murray did not waste his second opportunity to serve the match out, closing out the encounter on his seventh match point at 12:46 a.m. when his opponent missed an inside-out forehand long.

The 31-year-old’s reaction said it all, screaming “Yeah!” twice as he walked to the net.

“I wasn’t dictating many of the points. I wasn’t hitting the ball that cleanly. I just fought and tried to make it tough for him,” Murray said. “Made a few little adjustments here and there. But mentally, it was a big one to get through.”

After Wimbledon last season, Murray did not play a match for 11 months before returning at this year’s Fever-Tree Championships. This is Murray’s first hard-court event since last year’s BNP Paribas Open.

The 45-time tour-level champion showed signs of good form in his first match back at The Queen’s Club against Nick Kyrgios, pushing the in-form Aussie before Kyrgios triumphed 7-5 in the third set. He also beat former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in Eastbourne before losing against Edmund.

On Monday, Murray showed both a strong competitive spirit and room for improvement. McDonald was unafraid of taking control in rallies early on, using a good variety of aggression and finesse with drop shots to control play against the World No. 832. The American excelled when he punished the Scot’s second serve, taking advantage of Murray’s repetitive placement by running around his backhand to attack with his forehand and control points from there.

But as the match went on, Murray’s steadiness began to wear on McDonald, who began to make more unforced errors. And once he began to spray more shots, Murray added more balls with little to no pace to goad his opponent into playing aggressively.

“I think I cut the unforced errors down. I started to serve a little bit better. I started off the match serving very poorly. I was struggling on my serve and didn’t feel like I had much rhythm,” Murray said. “I haven’t played in the darkness or under the lights in a very long time and I felt like my rhythm was off on serve, my timing a little bit. That started to get a bit better as the match went on, so that helped… I made a few less mistakes, but I would like to play better tennis in the next match.”

Credit is due to McDonald, who has shown excellent form of late. The 23-year-old, who entered the season without a tour-level victory to his name, advanced to the fourth round at Wimbledon, using that effort to crack the Top 100 of the ATP Rankings for the first time. He also showed his talent in the second round of the Australian Open, where reigning Nitto ATP Finals champion Grigor Dimitrov defeated him 9-7 in a fifth set.

Only five other singles matches were completed on the opening day due to rain. Winners included American wild cards Tim Smyczek and Noah Rubin along with #NextGenATP Pole Hubert Hurkacz. Former World No. 3 Stan Wawrinka was set to face American Donald Young right after Murray’s match. But as soon as the players took the court, rain began to drizzle again, and the match was postponed until Tuesday.

Did You Know?
Due to his injury, Murray slipped to No. 839 in the ATP Rankings earlier this month, which is lower than any ranking he had previously held in his career.

There are achievements that can redefine the sporting landscape in a country. For small, developing nations, a breakthrough can inspire millions and signal a shift in its sporting culture. Hugo Dellien hopes that this is that moment for his native Bolivia.

On Monday, the 25-year-old made a historic Top 100 debut in the ATP Rankings, becoming just the second Bolivian to reach the milestone. Exactly 34 years after Mario Martinez first put the nation on the tennis map, Dellien followed in his countryman’s footsteps.

In that span, nine of the 12 South American countries have had a representative in the Top 100. Add Bolivia to the list. Dellien ascended to a career-high No. 100 after reaching the semi-finals of the ATP Challenger Tour event in Tampere, Finland last week.

Watch Interview (in Spanish)

“The truth is that I’m really happy and very emotional,” said Dellien. “I had surgery last year in November and I never expected 2018 to go this well. I played in my first Grand Slam qualifying at Roland Garros, won my first Challenger title and now I am in the Top 100. It’s a dream. It’s the dream of all the players who start playing tennis. I never expected this, but I’m very grateful for everyone who helped me get here.”

With a population of more than 10 million, Bolivia has a diverse culture rich in cuisine, art, music and dance, with strong influences from its indigenous people. But the nation remains in search of a sporting icon; someone to put the country on the map on a global scale. Now, it has a tennis champion to celebrate.

“In the past year, tennis in Bolivia has grown a lot already,” Dellien added. “It’s been 34 years since we had someone in the Top 100. I hope that the people see this and the game continues to grow in my country.”

The 5’10” Dellien may be diminutive in size, but he packs a powerful punch on the court. In April, he joined Martinez as the only Bolivians to claim an ATP Challenger Tour title with his victory in Sarasota. Two weeks later, he added a second crown in Savannah and has since notched a third on the red clay of Vicenza, Italy. Not only is Dellien the title leader on the Challenger circuit this year, he also owns 30 match wins (second-most on tour).

“It’s been a mental change for me this year, but also I changed my coach and we’ve been working on my backhand. I’m more solid on that side. And I have more confidence hitting my forehand too. Everything is better.”

This could be Juan Martin del Potro’s favourite time of the year. The Argentine is back on North American hard courts, the site of his two titles earlier this season (Indian Wells, Acapulco) and his only Grand Slam crown (2009 US Open). He’s basking in warmth from the sun and from his fans this week at the Abierto de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex in Los Cabos.

Del Potro, the top seed at the ATP World Tour 250-level tournament, fell short of March’s Sunshine Double after beating Roger Federer in the BNP Paribas Open title match, his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 crown. Del Potro lost in the semi-finals of the Miami Open presented by Itau to eventual champion John Isner.

But the 6’6” right-hander can clinch the Mexican Double this week. Del Potro won the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco (d. Anderson) on 3 March.

“I’m having fantastic days here in Los Cabos. The city is amazing. We are having fun everywhere,” Del Potro said.

“We decided to come play here because it’s a good tournament for preparation for Toronto, Cincinnati and the US Open… I have a lot of fans here in Mexico. And I also have great moments, winning Acapulco a few months ago. That’s why I like to be in Mexico again. I will try to play good tennis and then enjoy moments with my fans.”

The No. 4 player in the ATP Rankings last competed at Wimbledon, where he fell one round short of matching his best showing at The Championships (2013 SF). Del Potro lost to World No. 1 Rafael Nadal 7-5, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals. Andy Murray remarked on BBC TV that their final set was “one of the best sets I’ve ever seen”.

Read More: Delpo: ‘Rafa Always Has A Little More Than The Rest’

“I’ve been training hard for these tournaments I’m about to play on hard courts… My body is OK. I’m feeling good with the tennis game also,” Del Potro said.

The 29-year-old will be a top contender at every event the remainder of the year, especially the two upcoming hard-court Masters 1000 tournaments, the Rogers Cup in Toronto and the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. At the season’s final Grand Slam tournament, Del Potro will look to improve upon his 2017 semi-final run at the US Open.

“When I feel 100 per cent, I know how dangerous my game is against the other guys. But sometimes you need more than tennis to beat the top guys on tour. I did it in the past and I’m excited to try to repeat it in the future,” Del Potro said.

He is currently in fourth place in the ATP Race To London, behind Nadal, Federer and Alexander Zverev, who will try to retain his Citi Open title in Washington, D.C., this week. Del Potro has played at the Nitto ATP Finals four times, most recently in 2013 and he reached the semi-finals in 2012.

“I would like to play a great tournament in New York [US Open] then a new goal could be qualify for London, which is, it’s not yet but I’m not that far [from qualifying]. It would be great for me if I could come back in London after many years,” he said.

“Rafa is playing so good, Roger has the potential to fight for the No. 1, of course, and Sascha is the future but he’s the present as well. I’m trying to get close to those guys, but we will see what’s happening at the end of the year.”

Before play got underway on hard courts at the Abierto Mexicano de Tenis Mifel presentado por Cinemex, #NextGenATP American Taylor Fritz and Aussie Bernard Tomic tried their hands on a different surface — the water.

players journeyed out near the Arch of Cabo San Lucas to test their skills at various water-based activities in the crystal-blue Mexican waters. Fritz, who attempted wake-surfing, added more to his blooper reel than his highlight reel.

“It was really tough. I need to just stick to tennis,” Fritz said. “I tried a lot and it’s pretty upsetting to me that I wasn’t able to do it.”

And he was not the only one who noticed. Tomic, who stuck to his jet ski, joked, “He didn’t do a really good job at it. He kind of messed up at everything”.

But that didn’t stop the pair from having a great time before refocusing on their tennis.

“It was fun going out there,” Fritz said. “I didn’t hurt myself like the last time I jet-skied, so I’m happy about that. It’s all good.”

Tomic has competed in Los Cabos on just one previous occasion, losing his opening match in 2016 as the No. 2 seed. But he is already off to a good start in Mexico before beginning his tournament against Egor Gerasimov.

“It was unbelievable, amazing,” Tomic said. “It’s so good to see stuff like that. Kind of saw it a couple years back when I was here as well, but to see it for a second time, it was amazing, really cool.”

And while Fritz had his fair share of struggles on the water, he is excited for the week to come on land. A year ago, the American debuted in Los Cabos, reaching the quater-finals before falling against eventual finalist Thanasi Kokkinakis, whom he plays Monday evening in the first round.

“I’m just really hoping to have a good week,” Fritz said. “I play really well here and I like being here. Obviously first round’s not easy, Thanasi making the finals last year. He beat me here last year, but I’m looking to get him back.”

No. 35 (Career High) Nikoloz Basilashvili, +46
The Georgian became the first player from his country to win an ATP World Tour title after beating two-time titlist Leonardo Mayer in the German Tennis Championships 2018 presented by Kampmann championship match. The 26-year-old is also the first Georgian to crack the Top 40 of the ATP Rankings, rising 46 spots to surpass former World No. 42 Irakli Labadze’s record set in July 2004. Bailashvili failed to win a set in his first two tour-level championship-match appearances, falling to Paolo Lorenzi (Kitzbuhel 2016) and Ryan Harrison (Memphis 2017). Read More & Watch Highlights

View Latest ATP Rankings

No. 53 (Career High) Nicolas Jarry, +16
The 22-year-old stunned top seed Dominic Thiem en route to the German Tennis Championships 2018 presented by Kampmann semi-finals. After improving his strong clay-court record to 16-10 this season, Jarry soars 16 places to a career-high No. 53 in the ATP Rankings. The Chilean reached his first tour-level final at the Brasil Open in February (l. to Fognini).

No. 54 (Career High) Matteo Berrettini, +30
Having entered the J. Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad without a tour-level quarter-final appearance to his name, Berrettini stunned the field in Switzerland to lift his maiden ATP World Tour title. The 22-year-old defeated three seeded players in five rounds to emerge victorious, including second seed Roberto Bautista Agut in the final. The Italian held all 49 service games he played throughout the tournament and jumps 30 positions to a career-high No. 54 in the ATP Rankings. Read More & Watch Highlights

No. 82 (Career High) Jozef Kovalik, +31
The 25-year-old qualifier won five matches at the German Tennis Championships 2018 presented by Kampmann before a final-set tie-break loss to defending champion Mayer. Kovalik defeated fourth seed Damir Dzumhur in the first round and also swept aside 17-year-old Rudolf Molleker in straight sets. The Bratislava native, who also reached the Diema Xtra Sofia Open semi-finals from qualifying in February, moves 31 places up to a career-high No. 82 in the ATP Rankings.

Other Notable Top 100 Movers This Week
No. 50 Matthew Ebden, +5
No. 81 Taro Daniel, +7
No. 90 Laslo Djere, +11
No. 91 Marcos Baghdatis, +4
No. 96 Jurgen Zopp, +11
No. 100 (Career High) Hugo Dellien, +6

This week, the ATP Challenger Tour event in Binghamton, New York, celebrated its 25th anniversary. Needless to say, it was a memorable tournament for all involved. A total of 20 singles matches were completed on Thursday after torrential rain showers washed out play for two straight days. But when the skies cleared, fans were treated to a world-class display.

On Sunday, Jay Clarke defeated Jordan Thompson 6-7(6), 7-6(5), 6-4 for his maiden title, capturing a dramatic, high-quality two-hour and 56-minute marathon final. Thompson was two points from the championship – both on his racquet – at 5/4 in the second set tie-break, but Clarke escaped in thrilling fashion. He would eventually secure the title on his third match point, in what was the longest Challenger final since 2016.

Clarke, who turned 20 during the week, is Great Britain’s #NextGenATP hopeful. The Derby native is up to a career-high No. 175 in the ATP Rankings with the victory, rising 50 spots. He joins Kyle Edmund and Cameron Norrie, who ironically also recently triumphed in Binghamton (Edmund in 2015 and Norrie in 2017), as Brits in the Top 200. Andy Murray also lifted the trophy in 2005.

Clarke spoke to broadcaster Mike Cation following his breakthrough victory…

Jay, this was a bizarre week with all the rain delays, but this has to feel incredibly special for you right now.
It feels great. I came here after being away from hard courts for a while and I beat great players throughout the whole week. I did well in the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, so I didn’t have much preparation on hard. The fact that I could string five wins together in tough conditions makes me really happy.

Andy Murray won this tournament in 2005, Kyle Edmund a few years ago and Cameron Norrie last year. What is it about being able to translate the opportunities in the grass season to Binghamton?
I think British players are quite lucky to have the opportunities on the grass, and I know Cam and I played main draw Wimbledon and Eastbourne leading into Binghamton. You’re playing top-level players. I lost to Ernests Gulbis in a tight five-setter, so I had the feeling that I was playing really well. When you play those guys and then you come here, it gives you some confidence.

The two guys you played in the semis and final – Granollers and Thompson – are Top 100 guys. Your win against Granollers was complete, top to bottom. How did you process that coming into today’s final?
Well, I was completely focused on the match today. I came back from a set down on my birthday earlier in the week, so the fact that I bounced back and stayed level-headed is just my personality. 

I just focused on holding my serve and yesterday I think I played the big points really well. That’s what tennis is. Today, I had opportunities in the first set tie-break and didn’t take them. But I was lucky today and able to find some of my best tennis when it counted.

You’re saying ‘lucky’, but that was all skill and talent today.
Obviously the first time you do something, you have to have a bit of luck on your side. When I played Marcos Giron in the second round, I got a net cord to get a double break. In that game, the wind picked up and it could have been very different. I managed to make it scrappy and I enjoyed playing that tennis. A lot of things went my way this week.

It’s always tough when you play a solid set and lose it, like you did today in the first. And then to have your back against the wall in the second set tie-break. How did you bounce back mentally?
You always try to see the bigger picture in the moment. Before this week I was outside the Top 200 and now I’m taking this guy, who is No. 96 in the world, to 6-all with a set point in the first. I was creating these chances against guys who are much higher ranked than me. I think he’s won five or six titles before, so it helps a lot knowing that you’re not going to take every chance you get. You’re going to miss. Going into the match, it’s important to know that. 

You’re not entitled to anything. When he hit a backhand down-the-line winner, I was just thinking that it’s too good. It would have been easy for me to drop my head and think crazy stuff at the start of the second, but I’m really happy with how I managed these situations all week.

2018 #NextGenATP First-Time Winners:Molleker | Polmans | Hurkacz | Rodionov | De Minaur | Martinez

I can already see a difference in what you’re doing from the clay season. It seems like you’re running around the backhand less and trusting that side more. Is that accurate?
I can’t give away too much [laughs]. On clay you obviously have more time to run around, but the guys are going to find the backhand eventually in faster conditions like this. You have to back yourself. Few guys have a weakness when you get to the quarter-finals. They might have sides they favour more, but few weaknesses at that stage. You have to break them down until they miss. They’re not going to give much.

I’m just working on believing in my game more. With the matches on the grass, you can’t really run around the backhand so you have to believe more in that wing. I’d say I’m pretty solid from both sides and my technique is pretty clean. There’s not much that can go wrong with my game, so I think that helps a lot.

Today I noticed that you create a lot of depth from a defensive position. It impressed me most and it didn’t allow Thompson to come forward too much and attack.
The stuff you named is actually the stuff I’m working on, so I’m glad you’re picking up on it [laughs]. Against the top guys, if you give them one chance they are going to come in. I knew it was important to hit the ball deep today and keep him back, because he’s a very good player when he’s inside the court. Not staying defensive for too long was key. Not just today, but the whole week. 

You have to be 50-50 here. On the clay, I can sit back and let them attack me 60-70 per cent of the time, because I’m quite happy moving. On the hard courts, you drop back once or twice and the ball is past you. You have to try to turn the points early in the rallies and that’s what I’ve been doing.

You had your birthday here this week, but you didn’t get to properly celebrate. You also have to get to Lexington now. How do you celebrate your birthday and your first trophy?
My brother is coming out in a couple weeks, so maybe we’ll do something then. It’s a good problem to have. I’ve enjoyed this week and I never usually do something for my birthday anyway. I’m always on the road traveling. I’m just enjoying this.