Andy Murray has bowed out of the European Open in Antwerp with a straight sets defeat to Diego Schwartzman. Murray, back at the scene of his last singles title in 2019, was unable to make the most of an early lead as Schwartzman won 6-4, 7-6 (6) in two hours and 13 minutes.
The Argentinian had the luxury of a first-round bye on Tuesday while Murray fought his way into the last 16 with an epic victory over Frances Tiafoe which lasted almost four hours.
Murray struck the first blow against Schwartzman to break for a 3-1 lead and the Scot’s serve was not troubled until the Argentinian fought back in the seventh game. Murray saved a second break point with an ace, but it was third time lucky for Schwartzman who broke, levelled and then surged ahead. Schwartzman saw out the first set by winning a fifth consecutive game.
Murray held serve at the start of the next set by saving two break points but Schwartzman’s did break for a 3-2 lead, before Murray showed his resilience once again to level at 4-4.
Both players then led in a thrilling tie-break which saw no less than five break points but Schwartzman clinched victory with his second match point.
Emma Raducanu has meanwhile announced she will play on the WTA tour in Austria next month. The US Open champion, who is down to appear in next week’s Transylvanian Open, said in a video posted on Twitter: “I’m very excited to be coming to the Upper Austria Ladies Linz tournament this November. Hope to see you there.”
The Upper Austria Ladies Linz event will be played from 6-12 November. The 18-year-old British star pulled out of this week’s VTB Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
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Raducanu has played only one match since she shot to international stardom with her victory at Flushing Meadows last month, suffering a second-round defeat to Aliaksandra Sasnovich at the BNP Paribas Open.
After losing 6-2, 6-4 to Sasnovich at Indian Wells – which came 27 days after her US Open triumph – Raducanu said she needed to “cut herself some slack” as she comes to terms with her new life as a grand slam champion.
