Murray too good for Fish

SCOTS tennis star Andy Murray resisted a spirited challenge from veteran hardcourt specialist Mardy Fish to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Masters.

Fish, 33, returned to singles action on the ATP Tour earlier this year after an 18-month absence following a battle with a heart condition and anxiety disorder but he will step into retirement when his US Open campaign ends. I was struggling with my serve.

Murray had ended an eight-match, 25-month drought against the Serb on Sunday in Montreal, but was given a thorough test by the 33-year-old Fish, who has said he will retire after the August 31-Sept.

“But obviously last week was great for me regardless of how I play here and was a good win for my confidence”.

After taking the first set 6-4, Murray let frustration creep into his game and he smashed his racquet after being broken in the 11th game of the second set, which gave the American the chance to serve out to even the match.

In women’s first-round play, Wimbledon quarterfinalist CoCo Vandeweghe cruised past qualifier Yulia Putintseva, 7-5, 6-2.

The British No. 1 now faces Dimitrov in the third round, in what will be the first evening match on Thursday, with the players not due on court before 7pm.

Jack Sock rolled to a 6-1, 6-2 win over wild card Bjorn Fratangelo, and Roberto Bautista Agut beat Pablo Cuevas 6-3, 6-4 in two late matches.

Gael Monfils fell at the first hurdle, the 14th-seeded Frenchman going down 6-4, 7-5 to Jerzy Janowicz, while Andreas Seppi defeated his fellow Italian Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 and Bernard Tomic downed Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-4, 6-3 to progress.

Venus Williams had to wait out a rain delay of more than two hours before beating Zarina Diyas 7-6 (6), 6-4.

Keys overcame 26 unforced errors 17 in the first set to advance. “I didn’t feel that confident striking the ball, which is quite different to last week”.