Andy Murray finds 'best' Indian Wells serving display to beat David Goffin in opener and set up Andrey Rublev clash

Updated 07/03/2024 at 07:34 GMT

Andy Murray reached the second round of Indian Wells with a straight-sets victory over David Goffin. Murray didn't face a break point all match as he set up a meeting with fifth seed Andrey Rublev. "While I’m still out here I’ll compete as best as I can and hopefully put on more performances like that," said Murray, who is likely playing Indian Wells for the last time,

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Andy Murray produced his “best” serving display at Indian Wells to beat David Goffin in straight sets in the opening round.

Murray, who is likely playing Indian Wells for the last time, won 85% of his first-serve points and didn’t face a break point in the match.

He improved to 8-0 against Goffin with a 6-3 6-2 victory.

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"For me it was the serve," said Murray.

"That frees up a lot of the rest of my game. When you're always having to fight and work for points on your own serve, you feel more under pressure but today I got a lot of free points off my serve.

"That freed me up in the return games and I was able to strike the ball well from the back of the court, defended well when I had to.

"That's the best I've served here. I've always struggled serving, certainly the last 10 years or so when I've been here for whatever reason. Today felt much better."

Told in his on-court interview that fans would like to see him play beyond this season, Murray said: “I would like to play for another 10, 15 years, but it’s not easy with the body.

“To keep up with these young guys now is extremely difficult but while I’m still out here I’ll compete as best as I can and hopefully put on more performances like that.”

Indian Wells is one of two Masters 1000 events, along with Monte Carlo, that Murray has not won.

He will next face fifth seed Andrey Rublev, who is coming into the tournament on the back of being disqualified from the Dubai semis for shouting in the face of a linesman.

Rublev possesses plenty more power than Goffin, who not only couldn’t get a look on Murray’s serve but also wasn’t able to trouble him much with his groundstrokes

“It’s a match-up that I’ve enjoyed over the years,” said Murray about Goffin.

“We play a similar kind of tennis but I’m a bit bigger and I’m able to serve maybe a bit faster and get more free points. I’ve always played quite well against him.”

Murray broke for the first time in the eighth game to move 5-3 ahead.

The three-time Grand Slam winner then sent down a love hold to take the set in 34 minutes.

A double fault gave Murray another break in the first game of the second set. Goffin couldn’t come back from there and a backhand winner saw Murray move 5-2 ahead.

Murray took his second match point to book his place in the next round.

Murray was the only British player to go through on the opening day as Jack Draper and Katie Boulter were both beaten.

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