Haase had won his first match against Murray five years ago and had taken the Scot to five sets at the 2011 US Open in their only other meeting. On this occasion, however, Murray barely gave the Dutchman a chance to show his ball-striking ability. Murray went on the attack from the start, pushing Haase back and forcing him to defend.
From 1-1 in the first set Murray won four games in a row to take charge of the match. Haase broke back to trail 5-3, Murray netting an attempted drop shot on break point, but the Scot responded in kind, breaking serve for the third time to take the first set in 41 minutes.
The second set followed a similar pattern, but on this occasion Murray kept up the pressure from the moment he broke with the score at 1-1. With Haase looking increasingly dispirited, the Scot won nine of the next 10 games. It was to Haase’s credit that he refused to throw in the towel, but Murray secured victory with his eighth break of serve of the match, the Dutchman hitting a forehand long on the first match point.
Murray said that being a Grand Slam champion had made no difference to him going into the match. “I was still nervous before I went on,” he said.
“I think when I would see the benefits of that is if I get myself deep into a Slam this year and you're playing against the top players. I think that’s when you'll draw on that experience and use it in the right way. But personally I don't think it makes a huge amount of difference to how you feel at the beginning of events.”
Murray has never played against or practised with his next opponent. Sousa, the world No 100, has played mainly on the Challenger circuit. Until today the 23-year-old Portuguese had played only one match in the main draw at a Grand Slam event, losing to Spain’s Marcel Granollers at last year’s French Open.
Having earned his place in the draw of a Grand Slam tournament by dint of his world ranking for the first time, Sousa earned his meeting with Murray in convincing fashion by beating Australia’s John-Patrick Smith, the world No 237, 6-4, 6-1, 6-4. Murray, nevertheless, is sure to provide a challenge of a very different order.
