the scotsman Andy Murray (52nd in the world) was proclaimed champion of Challenger of Aix-en-ProvenceFrance, beating the American this Sunday in the final tomi paolo (17th) for 2-6, 6-1 and 6-2. In this way, the former world number one obtained his first trophy in a tournament of this tennis category in almost 18 years.
Murray, 35, now has three Challenger titles to his credit, the category equivalent to the second world division, below the ATP circuit to which the British are used to. The other two were joined at Aptos and Binghamton, both in the USA and on hard surfaces, in mid-2005.
The Scotsman, who has won 46 titles in the ATP – three of which are Grand Slams – had not won a tournament since October 2019, when he was crowned in Antwerp. Thanks to this victory, on Monday he will be back in the world ‘Top 50’ and will be 42nd in the standings.
He is also the third former world number one to win a Challenger after reaching the top. The American Andre Agassi, in Burbank 1997, and the Chilean Marcelo Ríos, in Santiago 2001, are the other two. Other fact: Murray had not won a tournament on clay since 2016.
The Aix en Provence Challenger was played on a clay surface and served as preparation for Roland Garros. He has been chosen by many world elite tennis players who were eliminated in the opening rounds of the Masters 1000 in Madrid. Murray’s shooting victim Paul was the No. 1 seed.
Source: AFP
Source: Clarin
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