A sell-out crowd was on site Tuesday and despite extremely windy conditions, the Infosys Hall of Fame Open featured activities, clinics, and terrific main draw tennis. The International Tennis Hall of Fame hosted USTA members and student-athletes from National Junior Tennis & Learning chapters from around New England to witness the return of three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray to Newport.
Murray, who last played at the Infosys Hall of Fame Open at age 19 in 2006, put forth a dominating first round performance, defeating Sam Querrey 6-2, 6-0 in just 54 minutes. Murray converted all six of his break point attempts while upping his record on grass this season to 6-2.
“It’s amazing to be back here and play on this court again after 16 years,” said Murray post-match. “I'm aware I am getting towards the end of my career, so I want to make the most of every match and every tournament I get to play now. I’ve been playing better these last few months, and with one match closer today, I’m hoping for a good run here in Newport.”
Next up for Murray is 2022 Wimbledon doubles champion, Australia’s Max Purcell, who picked up victory in three sets over Adrian Mannarino, 6-3, 1-6, 7-5. The match flipped the script from the first round of singles at Wimbledon, when Mannarino defeated Purcell in five sets.
Qualifier Mitchell Krueger captured the upset of the singles draw so far, defeating Tim van Rijthoven of the Netherlands, who advanced to the round of 16 at Wimbledon last week.
Chris Eubanks advanced to the round of 16 for the second time in his past three trips to the Infosys Hall of Fame Open defeating Dominik Koepfer 6-4, 7-5. Eubanks will meet No. 5 seed Benjamin Bonzi of France next, who defeated qualifier Will Blumberg in three sets, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Rounding out main draw winners on Tuesday were No. 7 seed Jiri Vesely, No. 8 seed James Duckworth, and Quentin Halys.
In doubles, singles top seed Felix Auger-Aliassime won his first career match in Newport, teaming with Bonzi for a 6-1, 6-4 win over German duo Peter Gojowcyzk and Dominik Koepfer. The pair will next face top seeds Raven Klaasen and Marcelo Melo.
Wednesday’s singles action kicks off at 11 a.m. when Newport fan favorites Alexander Bublik and Jack Sock square off on Center Court, followed immediately by Murray and Purcell. Four-time Infosys Hall of Fame Open champion John Isner will return to the courts for the first time since 2019 in the third match in the Stadium, meeting Gojowczyk, followed by top singles seed Auger-Aliassime, who faces Wimbledon fourth-round standout Jason Kubler in the first meeting between the two players.