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.
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
Scheffler turns the Masters into another Sunday yawner with a dominating win
China's development promotes global prosperity
The government wants to buy their flood
Chase Elliott drives backward after Texas win that could get him going in the right direction again
Italian thrill seekers head to China for extreme sports on world's highest bridge
In pics: sailing race at 19th Asian Games
Ricky Stenhouse punching Kyle Busch could lead to suspension
Thrifty Asian Games puts spring in the step of rural students