Ymer Battles Past Murray In Washington

There are roller-coaster matches, and then there is the clash between Mikael Ymer and Andy Murray on Monday.

After plenty of twists and turns, the Swede ultimately upset the former World No. 1 7-6(8), 4-6, 6-1 to reach the second round of the Citi Open. It was Ymer’s first match on a hard court since February.

“I’m excited,” Ymer said in his on-court interview. “It was the first day [of the U.S. swing], so obviously a lot left to do, but it’s a very good start of the American swing.”

Both men showed physical issues at different points, but the Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals alumnus surged through the third set to triumph after two hours and 50 minutes.

After saving four set points in the opener and taking a 3-1 lead in the second, Ymer was in full control. Murray was left stretching his legs on several occasions and rueing missed opportunities. On each of his four set points in the first set — one at 6-5 and three more in the tie-break — he was in a winnable position in the point, but was unable to convert.

Suddenly in the middle of the second set, Ymer began misfiring and showed signs of his own physical discomfort, which gave Murray a burst of energy. The Scot won five of the final six games of the second set to capture the momentum.

After the set break, however, the 46-time tour-level titlist made a unforced forehand error to relinquish a break and was never able to dig back into the match. Ymer looked totally refreshed and despite a hiccup when serving up 4-0, he closed out his victory to set a clash against 15th seed Aslan Karatsev.

While Murray was unable to advance, Briton Kyle Edmund did. The 27-year-old earned his first ATP Tour win in 29 months when he defeated Japanese qualifier Yosuke Watanuki 6-4, 7-6(8).

Three left knee surgeries had kept Edmund out for 21 months. Now he will play countryman Daniel Evans for a place in the third round in Washington.

“It’s very rewarding. During the long periods where I was out – not picking up a racquet for five months – it was these events that I pictured myself being out here,” Edmund said. “It’s something that you miss, feeling the buzz, hearing the crowd, playing under pressure.

“I didn’t find it easy today. He’s a very tricky player and very energetic, but I kept telling myself I’d worked too hard to not [give my all]. I hung in there and I got my reward in the end.”

American Denis Kudla, who grew up training in nearby College Park, Maryland, rallied past countryman Michael Mmoh, a qualifier, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. J.J. Wolf was another American who moved on, a 6-2, 6-3 winner against Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.