Andy and Jamie Murray marked their first doubles match together in three years with a first-round victory at the Washington Open. The duo are teaming up on the ATP Tour for the first time since 2016 and they had to hold their nerve as they secured a gutsy 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 10-5 win over French pair Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin – the decider having been played as a first-to-10 champions tie-break.
Andy Murray is competing in just his fourth tournament since returning from hip surgery, while the event also comes 12 months on from his last visit to the American capital, which saw him reduced to tears during his third-round match against Marius Copil as he was in so much discomfort. The former world number one, who has already indicated he could return to singles action at the Cincinnati Masters later this month, admits he is now playing “pain-free”.
“I’m in a much better place than last year – physically I feel better, I’m not restricted in hitting shots, I’m still a bit slow, but hopefully that will improve,” he told reporters. “To come back here and be pain-free is brilliant.” The Murray brothers’ reward for reaching the second round in Washington is a clash with second seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo on Friday.