"I’d forgotten what that felt like" - Andy Murray jokes after first straight-sets victory of 2023 season at Indian Wells

Andy Murray joked that he had forgotten what straight-sets wins looked like after recording his maiden straight-sets victory of the season and the first since October 2022 at Indian Wells on Saturday. After nine consecutive deciding set victories, Murray beat Radu Albot 6-4, 6-3 in the second round at Indian Wells.

Ahead of Saturday's contest against Moldovan Albot, all seven of Murray's victories this year came in deciding sets, including five with scorelines of 7-6 or 7-5 in the final set and two five-set marathons at the Australian Open. In the first round at Indian Wells earlier this week, the Briton tennis great beat Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4 in an over three-hour contest.

After finally tasting success in a much more comfortable manner, Murray himself could not help but see the lighter side to it.

"I’d forgotten what that felt like. Bosh," Andy Murray wrote on Twitter after the win against Albot.

I’d forgotten what that felt like. Bosh💪 twitter.com/TennisTV/statu…

Prior to this, the last time Murray won in straight sets was back at the Gijon Open in Spain in early October, beating Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 7-5, 6-2 in the first round.

The three-time Grand Slam champion was originally scheduled to face Pablo Carreno Busta in the second round at Indian Wells, but the Spaniard withdrew shortly before the match due to an elbow injury. He was then replaced in the draw by Albot, who was a 'lucky loser.'

Murray faces compatriot Jack Draper next in what promises to be a thrilling contest after the 21-year-old beat fellow Brit, Dan Evans, 6-4, 6-2.

Andy Murray surpasses Jimmy Connors for fifth-most hard-court wins in Open Era

Andy Murray competes against Radu Albot at Indian Wells 2023.

Courtesy of his latest victory, Andy Murray surpassed American tennis great Jimmy Connors to record the fifth-most men's singles match wins on hard-courts in the Open Era. Murray now has 491 career wins on the surface, going past Connors' 490. Murray will now chase Rafael Nadal, who has 516 hard-court wins, and the Spaniard himself will look to add to that tally later going forward. Ahead of the duo of Murray and Nadal, Andre Agassi is in third place with 592 wins.

Roger Federer leads the pack with a staggering 783 career hard-court wins and Novak Djokovic holds second place with 670 wins.

Murray will now aim for hard-court win No. 492 on Monday against Draper and also reach the Indian Wells Round of 16 in the process. It will be Murray's first tour-level contest against compatriot Draper.