World number three Andy Murray began his title defense at the US Open 2013 Tennis Championships on Wednesday with a straight sets victory over Frenchman Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
“I didn’t feel that nervous tonight,” he said. “I felt comfortable before the match. I didn’t feel any extra pressure, which was good. I was just ready to play… There were no sort of unknowns out there on the court. I’ve played many matches there. I played in the evening. I played him a few times. I like playing left handers. I didn’t feel loads of nerves before the match. I just wanted to get on.”
“It was a fairly, I thought, high standard match,” said Murray. “Lots of reactions and dropshots, and definitely tested my movement today. I thought I moved well. I didn’t make too many errors. It was a solid match.”
Murray is aiming to become the first player to successfully defend the hardcourt Grand Slam event since Roger Federer did the feat from 2004 to 2008.
He will next face Argentine Leonardo Mayer, who defeated Romanian Victor Hanescu 7-6(4), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(4).
