Murray Defeats Monfils At Aix-En-Provence Challenger To Record First Win Since March
It was an unexpectedly all-star billing at the Open Du Pays d’Aix on Wednesday as three-time major champion Andy Murray took on former world No. 6 Gael Monfils, himself a two-time slam semi-finalist. And it was Murray who earned a much-needed victory, his first since beating Radu Albot at Indian Wells back in March. Murray plays world No. 187 Laurent Lokoli in the Last-16.
Andy Murray beat Gael Monfils 6-3 6-2 at the Aix-en-Provence Challenger event to record a first win since 11 March.
Murray has been in the midst of one of the most challenging periods of his long and distinguished career, going out in the first round of three consecutive events – Miami, Monte Carlo and then Madrid – as after opting to play the clay-court season, his form has deserted him.
The 35-year-old Scot had appeared rejuvenated at the Australian Open, coming through two remarkable five-setters with Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis respectively, but then came his recent downturn.
As such, his straightforward, straight-sets win over Monfils represented a much-needed tonic as the French Open looms, where Murray has declared his willingness to play.
Monfils is also in a tough patch, having missed the second half of 2022 and the start of 2023 with heel and foot problems, and is yet to record a win on the ATP Tour in 2023, having been knocked out in the first round of Indian Wells – where he made his return after seven months out – and Miami.
Talking recently about his fortunes, Monfils said: “I’m not even sure that I really have the level to win matches. For the moment, I am far from winning matches.”
And it was Murray who generally looked the sharper from the off in the south of France, dominating the now world No. 322 Monfils to win in 1h18.
Murray took the first set in 43 minutes having broken Monfils twice – and only getting broken once himself – before stretching away in the second set, landing two further breaks as Monfils had no response, the despondent Frenchman shanking an ugly backhand out on match point down.
Murray faces another Frenchman, Laurent Lokoli, in the Last-16.
