Presse Sports / JEAN BAPTISTE AUTISSIER
Benoit Paire earned his first tour-level win since August 2022 on Monday at the Open Sud de France – Montpellier, where he earned a comeback win against former World No. 1 Andy Murray.
The Frenchman fired eight aces en route to a 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-3 victory at the ATP 250 event after two hours and 43 minutes.
First tour-level win since 2022! 🙌
— ATP Tour (@atptour) January 29, 2024
Lovely lob from @benoitpaire on his way to defeating Murray 2-6 7-6(5) 6-3!@OpenSuddeFrance | #OSDF24 pic.twitter.com/QjAQo5OvMz
Paire’s last tour-level win before Monday came in Washington in 2022 and he was competing in his first tour-level match since Roland Garros in 2023. The No. 112 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings has fond memories in Montpellier, having reached the final in 2013. The 34-year-old will next play a French wild card - Harold Mayot or Lucas Pouille.
The 36-year-old Murray, who last won an ATP Tour title in 2019, now holds a 0-3 record on the year.
Michael Mmoh earned his first tour-level indoor hard-court win, defeating Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6-3, 7-5 to reach the second round in Montpellier.
The American, who was playing in his first tour-level match since his third-round defeat at the 2023 US Open, hit 10 aces and saved both break points he faced to advance after one hour and 36 minutes. Mmoh will next play French qualifier Antoine Escoffier or Alexandre Muller.
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