US Open 2016: Andy Murray beats Lukas Rosol in straight sets inside two hours

Straight sets: Andy Murray
(DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)
Tom Allnutt31 August 2016

Andy Murray never had to leave first gear as the British number one began his US Open campaign with an emphatic victory over Lukas Rosol.

Murray is arguably favourite in New York to claim his fourth grand slam title and the Scot justified the tag, thrashing Rosol 6-3 6-2 6-2.

He will now face world number 45 Marcel Granollers in round two after the Spaniard had earlier beaten Argentina's Juan Monaco in straight sets.

Murray's progress also means Britain will have five players in the second round at Flushing Meadows for the first time since 1987, with Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans, Johanna Konta and Naomi Broady having also made it through.

Novak Djokovic's injury-hampered win over Jerzy Janowicz on Monday has only fanned the hype around Murray's challenge, but the level of expectation does not seem to be weighing heavy on the world number two.

He did not have to defend a single break point against Rosol, while capitalising on five himself, and made only 17 unforced errors during the contest.

"I served very well. I don't think I had any break points against me so that was good," Murray said on court afterwards.

"I used good variation on the second serve as well, which is important against someone going for big returns.

"It was a tough start to the match. He had a few chances early on but once I got a break up I started to relax and played well."

Rosol is best known for his shock Wimbledon defeat of Rafael Nadal in 2012, but that has been his only success against top-five ranked players now in 15 attempts.

The straight-talking Czech did raise eyebrows in Munich last year when he bumped into Murray at a change of ends, prompting the Scot to tell his opponent: "No-one likes you on the tour, everyone hates you."

Those hoping for a re-run, however, would have left disappointed as Murray coasted through a rather sleepy contest in Arthur Ashe Stadium, during which the favourite was in complete control throughout.

Granollers, ranked 45th in the world, is likely to offer a sterner test.

"He plays different to a lot of players now, he likes to come forward a lot, he's got great hands and has good feel up at the net," Murray said of his next opponent.

"He doesn't give you much rhythm so hopefully I'll play a good match."

Rosol was eager to come forward as he rushed the net on the very first point and, on the second, lured Murray in with a drop-shot and punched away the volley.

His daring, however, too often strayed into recklessness as Murray grabbed a break at 3-2 before sealing the set in 43 minutes after a Rosol forehand flew long.

US Open Tennis 2016 - In pictures

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Murray broke again at the start of the second set and then twice to lead 4-0, as the 29-year-old began to enjoy himself, flicking away a backhand smash in the midst of a swivelling pirouette.

Rosol did get on the board eventually but a booming serve put him two sets down with no signs of recovery in sight.

Perhaps the point of the night came at the start of the third as each traded a series of heavy blows from the back, only for Murray to suddenly change tack with a sumptuously irretrievable drop-shot.

The Briton lashed his racket into the court after missing a forehand at 3-2 but there was no need for frustration as two more breaks wrapped up a routine victory in one hour and 52 minutes.

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