Andy Murray will be itching to get back to court when he plays his first round match at the Western & Southern Open 2020 against Frances Tiafoe. The match will be played on Saturday, August 22 and is scheduled to begin at around 2.30 pm local time (7.30 pm BST). Get the live streaming options of this Andy Murray v Frances Tiafoe match along with its preview, head to head and tips here.
Looking to watch ATP tennis live streaming online?
- For tennis fans in the UK, Europe, Australia & elsewhere go to bet365 > Tennis > Live Streaming here* to watch & bet on the ATP & WTA tennis live.
- Get the latest tennis predictions here
[the_ad id=”14063″]
*Geo-restrictions apply & pre-funded account needed
Andy Murray v Frances Tiafoe Head to Head
This will be the first time the 81st-ranked Tiafoe will be taking on the former world number one Murray in a competitive match.
Also Read:
Murray in His First ATP Tournament Since October 2019
The last time Murray took to court in an ATP competition, he was at his doughty and fighting best. The Brit went on to win the title at the Antwerp Open, twice needing to come back from a set down including once in the semifinal against Stan Wawrinka.
Fitness hasn’t remained a strong point for Murray since then and as a result he has featured in only two tournaments since; a Davis Cup match for Great Britain last year and four matches in the Battle of the Brits exhibition competition earlier in June this season.
The good news for Murray is he came through those four matches without too many issues, and while he lost two of them – going down to Dan Evans and Kyle Edmund – there were enough signs to suggest he was getting to his best. Both his wins were straight-setters, and those losses needed his opponents close match tie-breakers in the final set.
30 of Murray’s titles at the highest level have come on hard court surfaces and he should feel at home at a competition where he has made the final thrice and won two times.
[the_ad id=”14063″]
Tiafoe Struggling to Live up to Expectations
Known to be a talented youngster, the 22-year-old Tiafoe hasn’t done too much of note on the ATP circuit in recent times. After winning his maiden and only ATP title in Delray Beach in 2018, his record has been anything but awesome.
In 2019, for instance, Tiafoe won just 23 of his 53 matches and had a 13-16 win-loss record on hard court surfaces. A quarterfinal at the Australian Open and Miami Masters were two noteworthy performances but the form fall was rather steep.
And it’s been worst this year, for whatever time the ATP tour was on before this. Tiafoe started off the season with first round losses at the Qatar Open, Auckland Open and Australian Open before his first win came at a Challenger.
Even there, at the Newport Beach Challenger, he fell away in the second round and while he made the quarterfinal at the Delray Beach, the lack of form all season and match practice during the pandemic break – he played just one match – will make a comeback here rather tough against Murray.
Andy Murray v Frances Tiafoe Prediction & Tip
Murray, if fit, should get the better of Tiafoe in this one. In fact, he might not even be stretched if he can play to the level he did during the Battle of the Brits.
Tip: Murray to win: 8/11 (bet365)
You can watch & bet on the Cincinnati Open on Saturday, August 22 here. Get the latest tennis predictions and tips here.
Be the first to comment