SIR Andy Murray’s year might be shrouded in retirement talk, but the British Grand Slam champion was able to fight past fellow former top 10 talent, David Goffin and reach the second round of Indian Wells today.

As tennis commentator Robbie Koenig said post-match, Murray put the “final nail in the Goffin” to reach the Round of 64, overcoming the qualifier 6-3 6-2 in exactly 80 minutes. The win extended Murray’s record to 8-0 over the Belgian, breezing past him with one of the most consistent serving displays.

“That’s the best I’ve served here,” Murray said post-match. “I’ve always struggled serving certainly the last 10 years or so when I’ve been here for whatever reason. Today felt much better.”

He won a massive 85 and 72 per cent of his first and second serve points off a 60 per cent clip, only dropping a total of nine points on serve without ever facing a break point. By comparison, Murray broke three times from five chances, and looked in control from start to finish.

Murray has a tough opponent up next in fifth seed, Andrey Rublev. The pair’s head-to-head is 1-1, however Murray’s sole victory came when he was the top seed at the Australian Open, only dropping five games in that second round clash way back in 2017. Rublev has since beaten him in straight sets at Rotterdam, albeit in 2021.

In other results, American wildcard Brandon Nakashima continued his rise up the world rankings with an impressive straight sets win over compatriot and world number 34, Christopher Eubanks. It was a good day for the Aussies with both Thanasi Kokkinakis and Chris O’Connell advancing through, the latter defeating the dangerous Jack Draper.

MEN’S SINGLES ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

Andy Murray (GBR) defeated [Q] David Goffin (BEL) 6-3 6-2
[WC] Brandon Nakashima (USA) defeated Christopher Eubanks (USA) 6-3 7-6
Alexander Shevchenko (KAZ) defeated Dominik Koepfer (GER) 6-3 1-6 7-6
Thanasi Kokkinakis (AUS) defeated Marcos Giron (USA) 6-3 7-5
Christopher O’Connell (AUS) defeated Jack Draper (GBR) 1-6 6-3 6-2
Yannick Hanfmann (GER) defeated Pedro Cachin (ARG) 6-7 6-4 6-1
Taro Daniel (JPN) defeated Daniel Elahi Galan (ROU) 6-4 6-1
Fabian Marozsan (HUN) defeated [LL] Jurij Rodionov (AUT) 6-3 6-2
Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) defeated Luca Van Assche (FRA) 7-6 7-6

Suspended:

[Q] Denis Kudla (USA) leads [Q] Constant Lestienne (FRA) 6-3 2-2
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) leads Emil Ruusuvuori (FIN) 7-5
[Q] Lucas Pouille (FRA) leads Daniel Altmaier (GER) 2-1

Form proved to be everything in the women’ singles with three qualifiers all making their way through to the second round. Home nation hero Bernarda Pera, Japan’s Mai Hontama and Slovakia’s Rebecca Sramkova all survived qualifying and booked their spots in the Round of 64.

Also through were Germans Angelique Kerber and Tatjana Maria, while Camila Giorgi upset in-form Brit Katie Boulter who was coming off a title in an Diego. Local talent Katie Volynets made the most of her wildcard, defeating young gun Mirra Andreeva and putting a stop to a Andreeva-Ons Jabeur rematch from the Australian Open.

WOMEN’S SINGLES ROUND OF 128 RESULTS:

Angelique Kerber (GER) defeated Petra Martic (CRO) 6-3 6-4
[WC] Katie Volynets (USA) defeated Mirra Andreeva (RUS) 7-5 7-5
Camila Giorgi (ITA) defeated Katie Boulter (GBR) 6-3 6-2
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) defeated Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP) 6-1 6-1
[Q] Bernarda Pera (USA) defeated Daria Saville (AUS) 7-5 4-6 7-6
Tatjana Maria (GER) defeated Arantxa Rus (NED) 7-6 6-2
Yulia Putintseva (KAZ) defeated Tamara Korpatsch (GER) 6-2 6-3
[Q] Mai Hontama (JPN) defeated Shuai Zhang (CHN) 5-7 6-2 6-0
[Q] Rebecca Sramkova (SVK) defeated Yafan Wang (CHN) 6-4 6-0

Suspended:

Danielle Collins (USA) leads [Q] Erika Andreeva (RUS) 7-6 6-5
[WC] Caroline Wozniacki (DEN) leads Lin Zhu (CHN) 7-6 0-1
[Q] Nuria Parrizas Diaz (ESP) leads [WC] McCartney Kessler (USA) 3-2
[WC] Venus Williams (USA) tied with [Q] Nao Hibino (JPN) 1-1