KEY POINTS

  • Andy Murray defeated Stan Wawrinka in Cincinnati Masters' first round
  • The match lasted for two hours and 34 minutes
  • Murray recently broke into ATP's Top 50 rankings

Former World No. 1 Andy Murray has revealed the area he needs to focus on ahead of the US Open 2022.

Murray bagged a hard-fought 7-6(3), 5-7, 7-5 victory over Stan Wawrinka to progress to the second round in the ongoing Cincinnati Masters. Murray improved his head-to-head against the Swiss player to 13-9 at the end of their two-hour and 34-minute game.

During an on-court interview, Murray pointed out that he suffered from cramp issues during his match against Wawrinka. He had the same issue at the Washington Open earlier this month.

"The court is pretty lively when the weather is like this. Physically I feel tired. I had some issues with cramps during the match, the same as Washington, so that is something I need to get on top of. I tried to take the ball on a little more and finish points at the net. I wasn't that successful when I came up, but the intention was there. I was a little more offensive on the second-serve return. Last game I was just fighting, trying to find a way through," Murray told ATP.

The two-time Olympic Gold medalist will next face off against Cameron Norrie of the U.K on Wednesday.

"He [Norrie] is very different to how Stan plays, being a lefty. Flat on the backhand, heavy topspin on the forehand. We have spent a little bit of time on the court together, so there won't be many surprises out there for me," added Murray in the same interview.

Britain's Andy Murray reacts during his loss on Monday to Sweden's Mikael Ymer at the ATP Washington Open
Britain's Andy Murray reacts during his loss on Monday to Sweden's Mikael Ymer at the ATP Washington Open GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA via AFP / Rob Carr

Murray reached Ohio after a disappointing first-round elimination from the Canadian Open in Montreal last week. However, the three-time Grand Slam winner has shown promising glimpses this season, reaching finals in Sydney and Stuffgart, helping him break into ATP rankings' Top 50 for the first time since 2018.

These signs are positive ahead of the US Open, the Grand Slam that Murray won in 2012. US Open 2022 is scheduled to begin on Aug. 29 at Flushing Meadows, New York, with the final to be played on Sept. 11.