Tennis: Andy Murray shines at Western & Southern Open after defeating Alexander Zverev

Andy Murray knocks Alexander Zverev out of the Western & Southern Open on Monday as he delivered the biggest win since his comeback from hip problems.

After nine months out, the Briton was playing his first competitive tennis in New York, and he delivered on all fronts with a stunning 6-3 3-6 7-5 success after building momentum from the impressive opening-round performance against Frances Tiafoe.

“It was ridiculously hot and humid at the beginning of the match,” says Murray in his post-match press conference. “I was wearing a heart-rate monitor during the match which I checked afterwards and I was pushing it hard. I think I would have got through a five-setter.

“It was a big one to get through. I’m satisfied to get through it against a top player having not played for such a long time and I get another opportunity to compete again tomorrow. It will give me an idea of where my body is kind of at. I’ll expect to be tired but I’ll try and push myself regardless of the result.”

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Former world No 1, Murray said he has been feeling in much better shape than he has for a long time as the US Open approaches.

And he showed a glimpse of his old self after he produced an outstanding first set in which he required just a single break of Zverev’s serve in the fourth game before successfully serving it out.

His German opposition, Zverev, wasn’t much of himself in their first meeting since the 2016 Australian Open – a match Murray won against the then fresh-faced teenager.

Zverev was, however, allowed a way back into the contest to send the match into a deciding-set shoot-out after a dip in speed on Murray’s backhand.

Murray’s fitness levels were being put to the test by the 23-year-old after some gruelling, high-intensity tennis, but the Briton, who is a two-time winner of the Cincinnati event, revelled in the competitive action on the Grandstand Court.

He delivered a spanking backhand winner to break through Zverev’s fragile defence in the fourth game and then moved 4-1 in front, but Zverev then reels off four straight games to go 5-4 in front and give himself the chance to serve for the match.

Murray battled viciously and broke again to level before holding to leave Zverev having this time to serve to stay in the contest.

Murray produces a couple of vintage winners before converting his first match point to seal victory in two hours and 31 minutes.

Murray, who has admitted he had to lower his expectations since battling injury problems, with the US Open starting on August 31 showed the spirit of a champion to overcome Zverev and will next take on Milos Raonic, who knocked out Britain’s Dan Evans, in the last 16.

Murray leads Raonic 9-3 in career meetings, including winning their past eight encounters, one of them the 2016 Wimbledon final.

“I have played him a lot. Huge serve,” Murray says. “I saw a bit of his match today against Dan Evans. He is serving well, playing aggressive, which is when he plays his best.

“We have played each other in some big matches. We played at the US Open, Cincinnati, Wimbledon final, the Australian Open. He has had his injury struggles as well, so it is nice to see him back.”