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Andy Murray in the first round of the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open, Spain
Andy Murray in the first round of the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open, Spain ¦ (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Tennis | Challenger & ITF Round Up | Murray claims ATP Challenger Aix-en-Provence title

Glenys Furness
Tennis

By Glenys Furness

  • Andy Murray claimed first singles title since 2019
  • Brit was fifth seed in France
  • Defeated four French players en route
AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE – Andy Murray took a wildcard into the challenger event and was the fifth seed. The Brit only dropped two sets en route to the title.

 

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Andy Murray was looking for some wins on the red dirt, ahead of the French Open. Having had miserable luck in Monte-Carlo and Madrid the Brit dropped down to challenger level. Murray accepted a wildcard into the main draw of the event and was the fifth seed. His first round match was against a player he knows well, Gael Monfils.

The seed had the advantage in the head to head before the match, however recent form especially on clay meant this should be a tricky match up at least on paper. Murray doesn’t read the script, never has. In the first set the Brit and the Frenchman stayed together at the start, before the Brit broke and took the lead. The second set saw the seed dominate and move into the next round with ease 6-3, 6-2.

In the second round Murray was against another Frenchman Laurent Lokoli. A trickier match from the outset, as Lokoli stayed with the seed at the start. However, the Brit managed to secure the break of serve to take the lead. The second set was much closer. The Frenchman stayed with Murray and it looked to be heading to a tiebreak. Unfortunately, Lokoli broke the Brit and levelled up the match. This spurred the Brit on, and in the final set the seed was able to break early, to move into the next round 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.

The quarter-final pitched Murray against yet another Frenchman Luca Van Assche. The Brit was in a hurry in the first set, as Murray dominated and took the lead. The second set was much closer, as Van Assche stayed with the Brit and forced a tiebreak. Eventually, the seed edged through and moved into the next round in straight sets 6-2, 7-6.

In the semi-final another Frenchman awaited Murray, this time it was Harold Mayot. The first set was incredibly tight, but finally the Brit broke through and took the lead. This seemed to break Mayot, who in the second set really struggled to get into the match. Murray breezed through the second set and booked a spot in the final 7-5, 6-1.

The final saw Murray against the top seed Tommy Paul. The American got off to the better start, dominating the fifth seed to take the lead. However, you never count out Murray. In the second set he flicked a switch, and dominated Paul to level up the match. The final set saw the Brit run out to an unassailable lead, as Murray once again dominated. The Brit lifted his first trophy since 2019! taking the match 2-6, 6-1, 6-2.

 

 

Challenger & ITF Round Up

Jan Choinski was defeated by Filip Krajinovic in the first round in Prague 6-4, 4-6, 6-2.

Ryan Peniston was defeated by Andrew Paulson in the first round in Prague 2-6, 7-5, 6-1.

Felix Gill was defeated by Matteo Martineau in the first round in Sabadell 6-4, 6-2.

Matilda Mutavdzic was defeated by Judith Perello Saavedra in the first round in Tossa de Mar 6-3, 7-6.

Emilie Lindh Gallagher was defeated by Lucie Nguyen Ten in the first round in Tossa de Mar 6-7, 6-2, 6-2.

Aryana Bartlett was defeated by Maria Bondarenko in the first round in Tossa de Mar 7-6, 6-0.

Anna Brogan was defeated by Ankita Raina in the second round in Tbilisi 2-6, 7-6, 6-0.

Katie Swan was defeated by Freya Christie in the first round in St Malo 2-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Freya Christie was defeated by Sloane Stephens in the second round in St Malo 6-1, 6-1.

Jodie Burrage was defeated by Greet Minnen in the second round in St Malo 6-4, 6-3.

Yuriko Lily Miyazaki was defeated by Victoria Hu in the first round in Bonita Springs 6-4, 6-4.

Katie Boulter was defeated by Himeno Sakatsume in the final in Gifu 7-5, 6-3.

Next week Brits play in Rome, Mauthausen, Francavilla al Mare, Prague, Sweden, Spain, Serbia, Tunisia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Japan, Croatia, Georgia & Turkey.