Two-time defending champion Andy Murray was bounced from the Rogers Cup with some haste by big-serving South African Kevin Anderson, falling 6-3, 6-1 in the second round in Montreal.
Rogers Cup ATP Montreal: Andy Murray Blown Out By Kevin Anderson To Halt Title Defense
Anderson, one of the sport’s larger towers at 6’8”, is more known for his powerful serve than any other part of his game. But Anderson made mincemeat of all parts of Murray’s game, breaking the Brit’s serve four times.
Murray, who won the tournament in Montreal in 2009 and Toronto in 2010, was the No. 4 seed at this year’s tournament. Anderson is currently No. 35 in the ATP rankings.
Though they are normally his strongest tournaments, Andy Murray has had an awful time on North American hard courts this year. He previously lost in his first match at Indian Wells and Miami in the spring, losing in straight sets to Donald Young and Alex Bogomolov, Jr, respectively. Both Americans were ranked outside the top 100 at the time.
With losses early in Cincinnati and the US Open last year (as well as injuries to No. 5 Robin Soderling and No. 6 David Ferrer), Murray’s place in the top four should remain safe for some time.
Stay tuned to SB Nation’s coverage of the 2011 US Open Series at SBNation.com as well as on Twitter, @DailyForehand .
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