Tennis star Andy Murray claims victory in his 1000th match at Queen's, whereas defending champion Carlos Alcaraz effortlessly advances.
andy Moore, in a chat with the BBC this week, hinted that he might be hanging up his tennis rackets beyond the upcoming summer, stating that it would be fitting to retire post-Wimbledon or the Olympics.
Should this be the final grass court season of his successful career, Moore's 6-3 3-6 6-3 victory over world No. 48 Popyrin seems a positive beginning.
This is Moore's first tour-level triumph since he suffered ankle ligament tears at the Miami Open in March, and he's also been grappling with a back injury lately.
When the interviewer inquired about his health during the post-match interview, Moore chuckled, "I've felt better."
"But it was sufficient today. I didn't realize, but it turned out my mom informed me before the game that it was my 1,000th match on tour, so countless matches, extensive body wear and tear, and it's no picnic, but I managed to power through," he added, with a laugh.
"Obviously, during the game, it's tough, but a great payoff at the end for the dedication and effort I put into the match. I've not had many wins this year. It's been a demanding season, but I did well to pull through in the end, maintained several tight service games, and ended up serving well."
Moore, a five-time Queen's champion, will face world No. 43 Jordan Thompson in the second round after Thompson's shock win over seventh seed Holger Rune.
Alcaraz starts strong
Over on the other side, Carlos Alcaraz, last year's Queen's champion, cruised to a 6-1 7-5 win over Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo to commence his preparations for defending his Wimbledon title.
Alcaraz, who snagged his third grand slam title at the French Open, bounced back strong after trailing 2-5 in the second set and clinched five consecutive games for a straight sets victory.
"Starting any tournament's first match is never a piece of cake, but it's particularly challenging here on grass, especially at the beginning of the grass season," Alcaraz said, according to the ATP. "You want to make a good impression and have to contend with a lot of expectations from yourself.
“I am genuinely pleased with the match and it was an excellent test, going head-to-head with Francisco. It was close in the second set. It's great to encounter tough circumstances. It's crucial to deal with nerves."
Alcaraz will square off against British player Jack Draper in the following round on Thursday.
