US OPEN: Andy Murray powers past Lacko and into round two

By Sportsbeat staff

ANDY Murray cantered through his first round match at the US Open - swatting Lukas Lacko aside at Flushing Meadows.

AT A CANTER: Andy Murray books his place in round two of the US Open with a routine victory over Lukas Lacko (Action Images)

Slovakia's Lacko was making his US Open debut but Murray looked at home on the Arthur Ashe Stadium and had far too much in his armoury for the world number 71, easing his way to a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 victory.

The Scot, a US Open finalist in 2008, as is so often the case at the fourth and final major of the season is being widely tipped as the 2010 champion - a prediction given weight by the seeming leniency of the draw.

He's a past master and handling the hype - in the early stages at least - and it's a long time since the Scot has failed to reach the second week of a grand slam.

And as he began his campaign against Lacko, Murray was all business.

"I managed to get through in straight sets so I'm pleased, but it was a lot tougher than the score suggests," he said.

"Everyone in my box says it's a lot tougher watching in the heat than playing but I'm not sure. They were really brutal conditions.

"It wasn't necessarily the best tennis but the conditions were tricky out there.

"It was very windy on the court.  I haven't really seen much of him play, so it took a little time to get used to his game. But I did enough to win in straight sets, and that was the most important thing."