PARIS: Andy Murray continued his losing streak against Alex de Minaur, as the Australian rallied back in the final set to advance to the second round at the Paris Masters on Monday.
De Minaur keeps alive his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin, as the 13th seed won five consecutive games in the last set in a 7-6(6), 4-6, 7-5 victory, his sixth win over Murray in their six meetings.
Murray lost his serve in the opening game of the match, but came back to lead 5-4 before De Minaur won the opening set in a tiebreak. The Briton took the second set and at 5-2 up in the decider, looked set for victory.
Despite serving twice for the match, Murray lost momentum as De Minaur's comeback saw him break his opponents serve three times winning the last five games to claim victory in the battle which lasted three hours.
Murray smashed his racquet in frustration after the agonising loss, and he has yet to win a match in this competition since winning the tournament in 2016.
Frances Tiafoe, 14th seed, was also in the running for the ATP Finals, but the American's dream died after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Bublik, the Russian winning 6-3, 6-4.
American ninth seed Taylor Fritz, meanwhile, advanced to the second round past Argentina's Sebastian Baez 6-1, 6-4 before fellow American Tommy Paul, seeded 12th, came from a set down to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 0-6, 6-2, 7-6(6).
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated 15th seed Ben Shelton, the Spaniard overcoming the American 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3, while Karen Khachanov recorded a routine win over Max Purcell, the 16th seed Russian winning 6-4, 6-4 against the Australian.
World number one Novak Djokovic, defending champion Holger Rune, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev are among the main seeds who received a bye into the second round. — Reuters
ATP Paris Masters Results
First round
Tallon Griekspoor (NED) bt Christopher Eubanks (USA) 6-7 (2/7), 6-3, 6-4; Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP) bt Ben Shelton (USA x15) 7-6 (7/4), 5-7, 6-3; Taylor Fritz (USA x9) bt Sebastian Baez (ARG) 6-1, 6-4; Alex de Minaur (AUS x13) bt Andy Murray (GBR) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5; Tommy Paul (USA x12) bt Richard Gasquet (FRA) 0-6, 6-2, 7-6 (8/6); Botic van de Zandschulp (NED) bt Adrian Mannarino (FRA) 6-4, 7-5; Yoshihito Nishioka (JPN) bt Jordan Thompson (AUS) 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-2; Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) bt Jiri Lehecka (CZE) 6-4, 6-2; Alexander Bublik (KAZ) bt Frances Tiafoe (USA x14) 6-3, 6-4; Nicolas Jarry (CHI) bt Alexei Popyrin (AUS) 7-5, 7-6 (8/6); Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) bt Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3; Karen Khachanov (RUS x16) bt Max Purcell (AUS) 6-4, 6-4; Laslo Djere (SRB) bt Luca Van Assche (FRA) 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4; Roman Safiullin (RUS) bt Alexandre Muller (FRA) 7-6 (7/4), 6-3
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