Andy Murray wins European Open opener; continues return to tennis

Andy Murray continued his positive return to professional tennis after he won  opening round match of European Open in Antwerp, Belgium. Murray beat Belgium's Kimmer Coppejans 6-4, 7-6(4) in a match that lasted over an hour and 44 minutes. 

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Straight sets victory

It was Scot's first tour-level match in Europe this year and winning will boost his confidence after coming back from retirement. Murray raced to a 3-0 le in first set but allowed wildcard entry Coppejans back into game with three double faults. In second set, Murray was taken all way to tie break, but three-time Grand Slam winner held his nerve to win set and eventually opening match. In next round, Murray will play next winner between Pablo Cuevas and Hugo Dellien.

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Comeback from retirement 

Murray is currently ranked 243rd in world and he anunced retirement earlier this year in January after suffering unbearable pain in his right knee. In a press conference in January, he said that pain in his right hip h me him consider retiring from sport. At time Murray h said that he h planned to retire around mid-year post Wimbledon but pain was just too much to handle. He h said, "I'm t sure I'm able to play through pain for ar four or five months. I want to get to Wimbledon and stop but I'm t certain I can do that. I'm t feeling good, I've been struggling for a long time. I've been in a lot of pain for about 20 months w. I've pretty much done everything I could to try and get my hip feeling better and it hasn't helped los. I'm in a better place than I was six months ago but I'm still in a lot of pain. I can still play to a level, but t a level I have played at."

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However, former world number one returned to professional tennis in August after a successful hip surgery in late January. He first played in mixed doubles category alongside Serena Williams and men's double category alongside Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert. But his singles comeback was in  Western & Sourn Open in Cincinnati. He lost opening round match against Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-4, 6-4. He anunced that he will t be competing in US Open but continued playing various tournaments such as China Open and Shanghai Masters. He lost to Italy's Fabio Fogini 7-6 (4), 2-6, 7-6( 2) in second round but produced a much spirited and above-par performance, winning a set as well.

Murray is hoping to make a comeback to Grand Slam tennis by competing in Australian Open but he has t anunced his decision yet. 

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