Andy Murray: Brit surrenders lead in first-round defeat to home favourite Benoit Paire in Montpellier

Updated 29/01/2024 at 22:12 GMT

Following his disappointing Australian Open campaign which ended in the first round, Andy Murray suffered another defeat, this time to Benoit Paire at the Open Sud de France. Murray looked energised as he took the first set, but after a tie-break in the second, ran out of gas as Paire rallied to victory in front of a home crowd. Elsewhere, Katie Boulter beat Jasmine Paolini at the Linz Open.

Watch: Top 5 points from Sinner and Medvedev's Australian Open final epic

Andy Murray was beaten 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3 by home favourite Benoit Paire at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier on Monday.

The loss followed a disappointing Australian Open campaign, where the Scot exited in the first round after defeat to Tomas Martin Etcheverry.

In the opening set, Paire showed moments of quality but struggled with his forehand as he set out to overcome a player in the top 50 for the first time since 2022.

Roland-Garros

French Open hint? Murray training on clay ahead of potential Grand Slam return

17 hours ago

Murray, ranked No. 49 in the world, sealed an early break to build a two-game cushion after capitalising on a couple of Paire errors.

The Brit stayed patient to hold to 15 as Paire continued to make unforced errors, but the home player was finally on the board in the fourth.

The Frenchman delivered a remarkable drop shot and followed it up with an inch-perfect lob, before firing an ace to cap off an impressive game.

Australian Open final highlights: Sinner stuns Medvedev in comeback to win first Grand Slam

Murray looked energised as he won the fifth game following more errors from Paire, as the 36-year-old wrapped up a hold of serve with a volley at the net.

The Brit managed to see out a convincing first set with Paire dropping two double-faults in the eighth game.

The pair enjoyed an electric second set, but this time it was Paire who broke early in the second game after Murray handed him three break points.

Murray’s plan to get the match wrapped up as early as possible began to look less and less likely until he struck back with a break of his own for 4-4.

However, a tie-break was needed to split them and Paire concluded a thrilling set relatively comfortably.

Things looked bleak for Murray when Paire broke early in the third to take control of the match.

But Murray hit back and then earned three break points at 2-2, each of which Paire swatted away. Murray was left furious when his decisive ball was called long, but with no challenges left, Paire held.

Murray hung on to the set for as long as he could, but his 34-year-old counterpart sealed a decisive break for 5-3 before closing out the win.

Elsewhere, Katie Boulter progressed at the Linz Open, beating sixth seed Jasmine Paolini 6-2 6-2 in just 72 minutes.

- - -

Stream top tennis action live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

Tennis