Andy Murray vs Marcel Granollers at US Open 2016: Familiar Foes Face Off on Second Round; Match Preview, TV Schedule and Streaming Details
Will Granollers pull of the upset?
After almost three decades since their last great run in the US Open, the racket-wielding warriors of Great Britain are back on the top tier. With promising names Kyle Edmund, Dan Evans, Jo Konta and Naomi Broady entering the second round of competition for the first time since 1987, the British are off to a historic performance.
Perhaps no one would better lead the Brits this year than the tremendously talented veteran Andy Murray. The No. 2 best player in the world is very proud of his team, and is confident coming into his next bout against a familiar opponent.
Friendly fire
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Murray is all set to make a run for the third round in the Flushing Meadows, and the obstacle he has to through to get there is one he can traverse effortlessly.
His next matchup would be Marcel Granollers, the Spaniard he had faced countless times over the years. Murray himself said they grew together in the junior ranks, and had developed a friendship with his usual foe.
The British star, however, had yet to let that friendship hamper his dominance in recent tournaments. The two had met seven times over the past tournaments, and Murray consistently handed Granollers six defeats. The only time Murray lost to the latter was when the Brit opted out of a game in Rome, suffering from back issues after the second set.
However, Murray refuses to be confident. Facing the No. 45 ranked tennis pro, he said the man is a special player. He said no one plays like his 30-year-old second round opponent, who comes forward a lot, uses his hands well and has a really good feel in his game. That said, Murray feels he has a tricky challenge this round, even though it is in familiar territory.
The clear favorite
There is no doubt the odds are in Murray's favor at this point. He had just plowed through Lukas Rosol, ranked No. 81, in New York, finishing with a convincing 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory. The Brit allowed no break points, and capitalized on his trademark shotmaking en route to the second round.
Murray was received well by the New York crowd, albeit a lot of them prematurely leaving when convinced the Brit was going to get the win anyway. He scored 11 aces and registered only 17 unforced miscues.
Murray faces Granollers on Thursday, September 1 at the Flushing Meadows, starting 6 p.m. BST. UK fans can tune in to the game via British Eurosport and online through Eurosports' streaming services. Live scores and updates will also be streamed on the US Open's official website.
