Former ATP number one Andy Murray will meet world number 41 Lorenzo Sonego in the first round of the 2023 Canadian Open on Monday, August 7, 2023.
Andy Murray will step up his preparations for this year's US Open by returning to one of his most successful pitstops. The Briton is a three-time champion of the Canadian Open, famously winning the 2010 edition in Toronto beating Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in back-to-back matches for the title.
Murray lost to Taylor Fritz at the Citi Open this week in a gutsy effort coming within a point from taking a 4-2 lead in the third set. While there's been considerable improvement in Murray's level since his return to the Tour for a second time, he isn't contented simply by earning plaudits for his efforts and not victories.
Murray will certainly be a big favorite to edge out Lorenzo Sonego in his opening match in Toronto. The big-hitting Italian has played a couple of clay tournaments since his grass-court swing ended dismally with a first-round defeat to Matteo Berrettini at Wimbledon.
Head-to-head:
Murray leads the head-to-head 1-0. The 36-year-old saved three points en route to a 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 win over Sonego at the Qatar Open in February. It remains their only ATP meeting so far.
Prediction:
Murray, ranked 44th in the world, enters this match as the lower-ranked player, with Sonego sitting three spots higher. For both players, the aim is to go as far deep as possible to try and earn a seeding spot at the year's final Grand Slam.
Murray knows the importance of securing a seeding spot given the kind of draws he has received at Grand Slam level in recent years. Murray has played at a tremendous level almost all season, and he just lacks that final product and killer instinct to win the close matches against the top players.
But he'll be super pleased with his performances and effort and his confidence is in a better place right now. For Sonego, we have not seen him play at the level we expect of him despite arresting his recent terrible run of results in Umag. Murray will be the clear-cut favorite in this one.
Prediction: Andy Murray in straight sets.
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