ALEX de Minaur has made an impressive start to the ATP Tour event in Vienna, defeating former Wimbledon and US Open finalist Kevin Anderson in straight sets.
Anderson served 21 aces to de Minaur's four but the Australian's better all–round game took him through 6–3 7–6 (7–3) in about 90 minutes.
De Minaur failed to covert on four break points in the fifth game of the match but broke to love in the seventh game as Anderson's serve deserted him with three double–faults in succession.
The Aussie No.1 then broke serve again in the ninth game to close out the set.
The second set was less straightforward, Anderson breaking to take a 3–1 lead.
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However, de Minaur broke back in a lengthy sixth game in which Anderson served five aces in vain.
The tiebreaker went the way of de Minaur from 2–2 and a mini–break each as the world No.32 sealed victory to await the winner of the opening round match between second–seeded Alexander Zverev and Croatian Filip Krajinovic.
Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin pushed world No.7 Matteo Berrettini to a first–set tiebreaker before succumbing 7–6 (7–3) 6–3.
Popyrin was unable to exert any pressure on the serve of third–seeded Berrettini, who sealed his place at the ATP Finals in Turin with the victory.
There were no breaks of serve before the sixth game of the second set when Berrettini strengthened his grip on the match – in which both players struck 20 winners.
Berrettini progressed to a meeting with big–hitting Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, who defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 7–5 4–6 6–3.
Meanwhile, three–times grand slam champion Andy Murray upset world No.10 Hubert Hurkacz 6–4 6–7 (8–6) 6–3 in two hours and 40 minutes.
"My movement has been getting a little better with each match," Murray, who underwent career–saving hip resurfacing surgery in 2019, said.
Defeat was a blow to Hurkacz's chances of making the season–ending ATP Finals.
The Pole currently occupies the last qualifying spot in the eight–man field but is now under pressure from the in–form Jannik Sinner.
Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz accounted for Briton Dan Evans 6–4 6–3 to set up a showdown with Murray in the next round. –AAP
