Blistering conditions: Murray overcame temperatures of over 100 Degrees in New York. Pic: ©Reuters
Andy Murray is through to the second round of the US Open after a 6-3 6-2 6-2 victory over Lukas Lacko at New York’s Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The Scot made his US Open bow under baking conditions, but it was Slovakian opponent Lacko who had Murray sweating early doors as he showed he was no push-over with some neat net play.
However, the world number four was simply preserving his energy in the sapping heat, and quickly asserted his dominance on the game, destroying his plucky rival with some sublime return shots.
After acing his first two points Murray broke Lacko in the fourth game with a magnificent looping forehand lob.
World number 71 Lacko looked to be on the cusp of a thumping, but with a mixture of the heat and some slack play by Murray - including an untypical missed smash - he soon played his way back into contention, saving three break points. But it wasn’t to last as Murray showed his class and coasted the remainder of the first set.
The next two sets went much the same way, with the Open contender seeming to be preserving his energy in the early games before stepping up a gear when he needed to.
A superb backhand return by Murray in the second set forced Lacko into a costly error, as he lost three breaks in succession. The British number one was in control of the game, and quickly claimed the second set with some intelligent backhands.
The 22 year old Slovakian looked to be up for the game, and must have sensed Murray’s mind was on the later rounds as he exerted every last drop of energy. But Dunblane-born Murray is a class above, and didn’t have to tire himself too much to seal a three sets victory and entry into the second round.
The win was sealed when Lacko’s excitability got the better of him yet again, as he double faulted to send Murray into a 2-1 lead. All that was left for the Scot to do was show some patience and play out the match.
There was more good news for Murray as Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed and a potentially tough quarter-final opponent, was beaten in straight sets by France's Michael Llodra.
Murray will now face Jamaican Dustin Brown in round two at New York’s Flushing Meadows.
