GRANDY MURRAY

Scot wins again in 1000th match and aims to get more ahead of Wimbers

- ANDY SIMS

ANDY MURRAY made a winning start to his Queen’s Club farewell with a milestone victory over Australian world No.48 Alexei Popyrin.

The 37-year-old, a record five-time champion in west London, picked up his first ATP win since March in the 1000th match of his career.

Yet, as with so many of the previous 999, Murray certainly did not make life easy for himself.

The former world No.1 dropped the second set and appeared to be struggling physically, grimacing after every serve.

But he hit back in the third, a vintage cross-court winner and fist pump lifting the crowd as he brought up break point before dispatching it with a clinical backhand on his way to a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win.

Murray, set to retire either after Wimbledon or the Olympics, said: “I’ve not got too many wins this year, it’s been a difficult season, and I did well to come through in the end. Any win you can get is important, that’s why we play.