Andy Murray defends underarm serve as ‘smart play’ after being booed at Indian Wells, as British star battles back to beat teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz in three sets

Andy Murray defended his use of an underarm serve as he beat up-and-coming star Carlos Alcaraz in three sets at Indian Wells.

The 34-year-old rolled back the years with a brilliant win 5-7, 6-3, 6-2 in a three-hour match in California as he showed he is not ready to surrender to tennis’ next generation just yet.

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But the British tennis legend faced jeers from the crowd for one of his tactics to help turn the tide.

Alcaraz, 18, burst onto the scene at the US Open by reaching the quarter-finals and overcame a slow start to take the first set against Murray.

The three-time grand slam winner used all the tricks in the book to change the momentum of the game, including an audacious underarm serve to hold his serve at the beginning of the second set.

The move draw cheers from the crowd, as well as a smattering of boos, and did indeed change the momentum.

Murray defended his use of the tactic as ‘smart play’ after picking up the win.

He said: “If you look where he was standing at the beginning of the match to return the first serve in comparison… he changed that at the end of the first set. 

“He started returning from further back, so it was even harder to get free points on the serve.

“I thought if he’s going to stand that far back and I’m getting no love from the court and the conditions – the courts are painfully slow here – why not try it and see if I can bring him forward a little bit again?

“Wasn’t expecting obviously to get an ace out of it. He was so far back, he didn’t obviously react. Wasn’t expecting it. 

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“I was thinking about using it at times in the third set, but obviously up in the score, was doing a little bit better, didn’t feel like I needed to.

“Certainly when guys are standing there to return serve now, it’s a smart play.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever done it in a match and I got the ace. I served three aces the whole match and one of them was the underarm serve.

“So maybe I’ll try it again in the future if guys are standing that far back.

Alcaraz was just two when Murray made his first appearance at Indian Wells and used all of that experience to win their second round match.

He now faces a tough test in the third round against No.3 seed, and Olympic gold medallist, Alexander Zverev.

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It has been an eventful week for Murray in California as he went viral for losing his wedding ring in unusual circumstances.

He left his shoes to dry under his car overnight, but forgetting his wedding ring was tied to them.

The shoes were stolen, but later returned following his plea on social media.

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