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Murray powers past Edmund

Last Updated 19 September 2018, 10:32 IST

Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray collected the biggest victory of his injury comeback at the ATP and WTA Washington Open while defending champion Alexander Zverev booked a matchup with his older brother.

Murray, sidelined by a right hip injury for 11 months until returning in June, ousted fourth seed Kyle Edmund 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 6-4 in an all-British matchup to reach the third round.

"That has been my best win since I started playing again," Murray said.

"It's a great win for me. It'll give me more confidence going forward."

World number three Zverev defeated Tunisia's Malek Jaziri 6-2, 6-1, to send the 21-year-old German top seed into his first ATP match against 30-year-old Mischa Zverev, the 15th seed who beat American Tim Smyczek 6-2, 7-6 (9/7).

"We played the final of Wimbledon a lot of times in our backyard," Alex Zverev said.

"I was 12. He was 22. I don't think I ever won. But this is on hardcourt."

On a day when reigning US Open champion Sloane Stephens was ousted by Germany's Andrea Petkovic and Australian Nick Kyrgios withdrew with a sore left hip, Murray stole the show with an impressive victory.

"Hopefully my body will adapt to the matches and get back to what it's supposed to be doing," Murray said.

Romania's 93rd-ranked Marius Copil, who ousted French 14th seed Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4, will face Murray on Thursday for a quarterfinal berth.

Third-ranked Stephens lost to 91st-rated Petkovic 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Petkovic, down a set and a break, rallied and won the final four games to reach the quarterfinals, her first victory over a top-10 foe since beating then-number five Garbine Muguruza at Doha in 2016.

Japanese third seed Naomi Osaka, ranked 17th, is the only top-45 player remaining in the women's draw.

Japanese seventh seed Kei Nishikori beat US qualifier Donald Young 6-3, 6-4 just before rain washed out the night's final five matches, including US second seed John Isner's second-rounder against compatriot Noah Rubin.

Konta in quarters

Johanna Konta followed up her stunning victory over Serena Williams with another brisk triumph on Wednesday, downing US teenager Sofia Kenin 6-1, 6-4 to reach the quarterfinals of the WTA hardcourt tournament in San Jose.

The tournament lost another big name when top-seeded Spaniard Garbine Muguruza pulled out with a right arm injury, hours before she was to face former world number one Victoria Azarenka for a place in the quarters.

Konta, a former world number four now ranked 48th, next faces fourth-seeded Elise Mertens of Belgium for a place in the semi-finals.

Mertens reached the last eight with a 6-2, 6-0 victory over American wild card Ashley Kratzer.

In other second-round action on Wednesday, American Danielle Collins defeated Vera Lapko of Belarus 6-1, 3-6, 6-1.

Collins next faces Azarenka, who cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Russian Anna Blinkova -- the lucky loser drafted to replace Muguruza in the draw.

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(Published 02 August 2018, 11:19 IST)

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