Murray overcome by Agassi farewell

12 April 2012

Andy Murray admitted he had to overcome tears as well as Fernando Gonzalez to reach the US Open fourth round.

The 17th-seeded Briton said he struggled to fight back the emotion of Andre Agassi's retirement at Flushing Meadows before taking to the court against Chile's hard-hitting Gonzalez, whom he beat in a five-set thriller.

"Today was one of the saddest days I've had in tennis," Murray said. "I mean, 20 minutes before I went on I saw Agassi play his last match. I was genuinely really upset before I went on to play."

He added: "I found it quite difficult to concentrate because I didn't realise how much he meant to the whole of tennis and to me growing up until I saw him play his last point."

The Scot though dug deep to beat his higher-ranked rival from Chile 6-3 3-6 2-6 6-3 6-2 in a tempestuous match that lasted two hours 44 minutes on Grandstand court.

Agassi's emotional reception from 24,000 fans on court at the Arthur Ashe Stadium was duplicated among his fellow pros, including Murray.

"I'm not going to lie," the teenager said. "But I think 50%, 60% of the people in there were probably in tears as well and holding it back. I know I was. It was really, really emotional."

Murray revealed he was also inspired by the tear-jerking events that preceded his match.

Having breezed through the previous round with a 6-0 6-1 6-1 demolition of Italy's Alessio Di Mauro, the 19-year-old knew he would be facing a step up in class against Gonzalez, and he got what he bargained for.

"I fought really hard," he said. "I was upset before I went on court. Andre is someone that's inspired me and it did inspire me a little bit today."

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