Flag bearer of British tennis looks increasingly self-assured as he gets ready to take on a potential successor
Late on Friday night, as he prepared for his second match at Indian Wells, a slice of good fortune fell Andy Murray’s way. His second-round opponent, Pablo Carreno Busta, withdrew from the tournament because of injury and Murray instead lined up to play against Radu Albot, a lucky loser who has spent most of his career in and out of the top 100.
While Murray had a great chance against Carreno Busta, a contest against one of the top counter-punchers in slow and windy desert conditions was likely to drag on for three exhausting sets. Instead, Murray quietly handled his business and secured his first straight-sets win since September, setting up a fascinating third-round encounter with Jack Draper.