Andy Murray vs. Mikhail Youzhny: Score and Recap from Cincinnati Masters 2013

Andy Murray defeated Mikhail Youzhny 6-2, 6-3 in the second round of the 2013 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati on Wednesday.

Murray made his first appearance of the tournament against the 31-year-old Russian, as the No. 2 seed was given a bye in the first round. It was a rematch of their fourth-round battle at Wimbledon last month.

Murray didn’t play at his absolute best, but he certainly performed better than he did coming off an extended break last week. The world No. 2-ranked player notably lost in straight sets to Ernests Gulbis in the third round of the Rogers Cup last Thursday.

After taking nearly a month off following an epic victory at the 2013 Wimbledon Championships, it wasn’t surprising to see Murray struggle a bit in Montreal, but there will be no excuses if he fails at the Cincinnati Masters this weekend.

Youzhny made it easy for the Scot superstar to advance to the third round, committing 41 unforced errors over two sets and exiting in just over an hour of playing time.   

Murray advances to face Julien Benneteau in the next round and seems to be on a collision course to face Roger Federer in the semifinals. Neither opponent is likely to play as poorly as Youzhny, so Murray must step his game up or once again face a possible early elimination.

Novak Djokovic, the player he ousted in the SW19 finals, is lurking on the other side of the bracket and is likely eyeing a rematch with Murray in this event.

After becoming the first Brit to win at All England Club in 77 years, Murray must not rest on his laurels. He needs to take care of business leading up to the 2013 U.S. Open and prepare to defend his title later this month in New York.

The 26-year-old won his first Grand Slam title at Arthur Ashe Stadium, following an unforgettable gold-medal performance in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

If Murray’s going to continue his excellent 2013 campaign and win a second major tournament, he’ll need to step up and prove he’s ready by winning the Western & Southern Open.