That long strange number next to Andy Murray's name, No. 832? Don't worry about it. If he plays like he did on Wednesday against No. 18 Kyle Edmund, the three-time Grand Slam champion will have only a double-digit ranking – if not smaller – in the very near future.
Murray gained the biggest win of his comeback, ousting friend and countryman Edmund 7-6(4), 1-6, 6-4 at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C. Murray advanced to the third round of the ATP World Tour 500-level event, and could be the favourite to reach his first quarter-final in more than a year. Murray will next meet Romanian Marius Copil, who beat 14th seed Jeremy Chardy of France 6-4, 6-4.
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The former World No. 1 will appreciate the chance to play for a quarter-final, no doubt, but more than anything, his win in Washington shows how far he's come, and quickly. On 27 June, Murray failed to take a set off Edmund at the Nature Valley International in Eastbourne, falling 6-4, 6-4 in only his third match back.
The Scot decided to skip Wimbledon, saying his body wasn't ready to undergo any five-set exams. It has looked like the right decision in D.C.
Murray held off American Mackenzie McDonald, who was fresh off a fourth-round run at Wimbledon, in his opener, and he showed glimpses of his best against Edmund, defending well but also dictating against the 23-year-old armed with a massive forehand.
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The two traded breaks to finish the first set but Murray pulled away as Edmund seemed to tighten up. Edmund framed a forehand at 4/5 before Murray slapped a backhand winner off a meager second serve.
Edmund, though, rebounded from the start in the second, hitting his own return winner off a Murray second serve to break for 3-1. The top Brit saw plenty of forehands and evened the match.
Murray had led their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 2-1 before Wednesday, and you have to think the Scot was playing with nothing to lose, this only his fifth match since undergoing hip surgery on 8 January. Indeed, Edmund seemed to feel the pressure, double faulting at 4-5, 30/30 before Murray again teed off on a second serve to advance.
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