Andy Murray came from behind to claim his 700th ATP Tour win at Indian Wells on Friday
(Picture: USA TODAY Sports)Andy Murray fought back from a set down to defeat Taro Daniel and earn his 700th ATP Tour victory at Indian Wells on Friday, while compatriot Emma Raducanu shrugged off injury concerns to beat Caroline Garcia.
It looked set to be another frustrating afternoon for three-time Grand Slam winner Murray against a familiar opponent in the Japanese qualifier, to whom he lost at the Australian Open in January before exacting a measure of revenge in Qatar last month.
World No114 Daniel easily took the first set 6-1, but Murray battled back to take the second 6-2 and force a decider, which he eventually won 6-4.
Murray - who last week announced a shock reunion with former coach Ivan Lendl, the third time the duo will have worked together - will face Kazakh Alexander Bublik in the next round in California in a key tournament often dubbed as tennis’ unofficial “fifth Grand Slam”.
Murray has said he intends to donate the rest of his prize money in 2022 to children affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
“I’m old now so these 11am. starts, it takes me a bit of time to get going,” Murray joked in his post-match interview. “But Taro played extremely well. He’s started the year very well.
“He’s a very unorthodox player. He’s unbelievably talented, got great hand skills and plays different to a lot of guys on the tour these days. He started this year well, but if I play well, I’ve got a shot.”
Fellow Brit Raducanu initially looked set to miss Indian Wells after being told there was “no chance” she would be able to play following the leg injury that forced her retirement against Daria Saville at the Guadalajara Open in Mexico a fortnight ago.
However, the 19-year-old - handed a bye through the first round - brushed aside those fitness worries as she booked a spot in the round of 32 after seeing off France’s former world No4 Garcia 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 to tee up a meeting with Croatia’s Petra Martic next.
It was only Raducanu’s fourth victory on tour since her shock US Open triumph at Flushing Meadows last year.
