Andy Murray through to Gijon Open Quarter Finals

• Andy Murray defeated Pedro Cachin in three sets to qualify for the Gijon Open quarter-finals. 
• The former world number one will now face Sebastian Korda in the last eight. 

Andy Murray has reached the Gijon Open quarter-finals after coming from a set behind to defeat Pedro Cachin.

Gijon Open is one of the six one-year licensed tournaments that are happening this season following the cancellation of the China leg of the ATP Tour. 

Andy Murray is competing in his first tournament since the Laver Cup in September. Before facing Pedro, Andy battled past sixth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in straight sets in the first round.

The British number three defeated Pedro Cachin 2-6 7-5 7-6 (7-3) and will now face Sebastian Korda in the quarter-finals.

Andy Murray. Photo/ STV News.

Andy Murray had to overcome a peculiar start as Pedro Cachin dominated the first set in the Gijon Open.

Pedro Cachin’s first point came after a double fault from Andy Murray. The British International was trying to recover from the setback when Pedro broke his serve right off the bat. 

Andy Murray failed to convert three breakpoint opportunities allowing his opponent to hold by coming through a nervy second game. And the Argentine international broke again in the fifth game. 

It took Pedro Cachin less than an hour to enjoy a comfortable victory in the first set. Andy Murray cut a frustrated figure as Pedro got into the supremacy. 

The three-time Grand Slam winner, Andy Murray, bounced back on the second set as he enjoyed more success on serve. He won 83% of his first-serve points. 

No breaks occurred in the first 11 games of set two. Pedro Cachin made some unforced errors, which gave Andy Murray a seventh chance to earn his first break of the match. 

At 6-5 up on serve, the British number three levelled matters after picking a perfect time to take his first one of the match. 

Andy Murray utilized his chances, thereby forcing a deciding third set. The second set was a much tighter and cagey affair. And it was because each of the two men was doing their best to proceed to the Gijon Open quarter-finals. 

At 1-1, the two men exchanged back-to-back breaks in the third set, which went all the way to a tie-break. 

Pedro Cachin and Andy Murray broke in the first two games of the third set before the latter emerged victorious.  

Andy Murray dropped serve twice in the third set but broke back immediately and went ahead to win the match, qualifying for the Gijon Open quarter-finals. 

Speaking after the match, Andy Murray said that he didn’t play his best in the first set. 

“I think I served well in the second and third sets, but also, I just fought very hard. In the first set, I wasn’t playing my best and Pedro was serving very well for the first set and a half, and I was really struggling to break serve. I changed a little bit the way I was returning and gave myself more opportunities to break and fought very hard to come back from a breakdown twice in the third set.”

Andy Murray. Photo/ SportPlatforms.