Andy Murray received his first title in almost 4 years by beating Tommy Paul within the remaining of the ATP Challenger occasion in Aix-en-Provence.
Briton Murray, 35, got here again from a set down in opposition to American prime seed Paul to win 2-6 6-1 6-2.
It’s the three-time Grand Slam champion’s first title since successful in Antwerp in 2019, and his first on clay since 2016 in Rome.
It’s his first title on the second-tier Challenger stage since 2005.
“This final yr, 18 months, has been a little bit of wrestle with my recreation. However [my team] have been there supporting me and dealing with me to try to get higher,” mentioned Murray.
“We hold going from right here.”
Fifth seed Murray took a late wildcard entry into the event to get extra clay-court match time earlier than the French Open, following first-round exits from Monte Carlo and Madrid in April.
After a gradual begin in opposition to Paul, through which the world quantity 17 received the opening 4 video games en path to taking the primary set, Scotland’s Murray discovered his stage firstly of the second set and reeled off 5 successive video games.
Paul, a semi-finalist at this yr’s Australian Open, bought on the board however Murray levelled the match on his first set level and picked up the place he left off within the decider, instantly breaking his opponent’s serve.
He missed out on the chance to go 3-0 up by failing to transform two break factors, and later noticed one other go begging earlier than he lastly broke 25-year-old Paul once more in what turned out to be the penultimate recreation, earlier than serving out the match.
Victory means Murray will rise to 42 on this planet when the rankings are up to date on Monday – his highest world rating since Could 2018.
His win over Paul marks his third victory over a top-20 participant this yr, after beating Matteo Berrettini within the first of his enthralling battles on the Australian Open in January, and Alexander Zverev in Doha in February.
The French Open, the second Grand Slam of the yr, begins on 28 Could with Murray aiming to play in it for less than the second time since 2017.
