GENEVA (AP) — Needing a win to face Novak Djokovic next at the Geneva Open, Andy Murray was saved by a heavy rainstorm when he trailed unseeded Yannick Hanfmann 7-5, 4-1 in a first-round match on Monday.
Murray and top-ranked Djokovic both got wild cards to enter the last clay-court event to prepare for the French Open, and were drawn to meet in the second round. They have not faced each other on tour since February 2017.
Ranked No. 75, Murray began to struggle in his first tour match in two months when heavy rain and strong winds swept across the stadium court in a lakeside park.
The 85th-ranked Hanfmann broke Murray’s service twice in a row to lead 4-1 with his service game to come when play was suspended.
In the opening set, Murray found some big serves to get out of trouble in the ninth game when he saved two break points.
It was just a respite, as Murray was broken to love in his next service game, sealed by a Hanfmann forehand service return winner.
Ben Whishaw lights up the Croisette as he joins his co
Ship comes under attack off coast of Yemen as Houthi rebel campaign appears to gain new speed
Turkish rail officials jailed for more than 108 years for crash that left 25 dead
Labour refuses to commit to matching Rishi Sunak's defence spending pledge of 2.5% of GDP by 2030
Four people killed in a house explosion in southwestern Missouri
London's Cavalry chaos: Moment
Warning over surge in imported malaria in Britain as cases of deadly mosquito
Columbia's president, no stranger to complex challenges, walks tightrope on student protests
Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
Here are 14 players to watch next season across the Big Ten Conference
Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
Pakistan women's great Bismah Maroof retires from international cricket