Murray overcomes Muller to snap 6-match losing run

Former world number one Andy Murray ended a six-match losing run to topple qualifier Alexandre Muller 6-1, 7-6 (7/5) at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open on Tuesday. The three-time Grand Slam champion raced through the first set but was made to dig deep by his French rival in the second to finally get his 2024 season off the ground.Backed by vociferous support in Doha the 36-year-old Scot conjured up a couple of sublime drop shots, including in the tense tie-break, to win for the first time since last October. How much the success meant to last year’s beaten finalist, now ranked 50th in the world, was clear when he raised his arms in triumph, exclaiming "Yes”."The last few months have been really tough on court for me. It was getting tight at the end there but I’m delighted to get through,” the Doha winner in 2008 and 2009 said courtside. "I’m proud I managed to get through the match, and happy for my team who have been working hard with me to get through this difficult moment. Hopefully this is the start of a better run.”In the second round he comes up against an unknown package in the shape of 18-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik, who sent fifth-seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina packing 7-6 (7/3), 6-4. "He’s obviously a very promising young player with a huge serve,” said Murray. "He moves well for a big guy, new on tour, I’ll need to be ready for that,” he added.Last month Murray hinted that retirement may not be far away after a poor run, following a comprehensive first-round Australian Open defeat by Tomas Martin Etcheverry.In just his eighth tour-level match, the Mensik notched his maiden victory against a Top 30 opponent by defeating Fokina. Mensik twice rallied from a break down en route to the opening set and then clinched a decisive break in the first game of the second before completing a 93-minute triumph. The Czech’s booming serve played a major role in his win, and he finished the match having won 70 per cent (26/37) of points behind his first delivery."I just tried to play my best,” said the World No. 116 Mensik, who is competing in the main draw in Doha thanks to a new benefit for next generation ATP talents who reach the Top 250 of the ATP Rankings."It’s a crazy opportunity to play a 250 here in Doha, so I’m super happy that I reached the second round and I will do my best to show this performance in the second round also.”Mensik is the youngest player in the Top 200 of the ATP Rankings. He reached the third round at last year’s US Open, his first tour-level event, and defeated Denis Shapovalov as a qualifier on his Australian Open debut last month. Mensik has achieved all this while continuing his high school studies."I think I will do language courses [tonight] because I am going to graduate this year,” said Mensik, when asked how he would celebrate his victory. "Hopefully after summer I will focus 100 per cent on just tennis.”Christopher O’Connell also upset a seeded opponent on Tuesday. The Australian overcame sixth seed Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-4 to increase his head to head lead against the German to 2-0. O’Connell’s second-round opponent will be Emil Ruusuvuori after the Finn edged qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 7-6(2), 7-5.In the final match of the day, Gael Monfils capped a hat-trick of French victories in Doha with a 6-1, 7-6(9) win against Botic van de Zandschulp. The 2018 champion Monfils saved nine set points in the second set before sealing a one-hour, 43-minute win. He will next face Zhang Zhizhen.Monfils’ countrymen Richard Gasquet and Hugo Grenier earlier booked their second-round spots. The 2013 titlist Gasquet beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 6-4 to advance to face top seed Andrey Rublev, while qualifier Grenier beat Maximilian Marterer 7-6(5), 7-5 to set a clash with Alexei Popyrin.