Murray's match-point misses compound woes

Scot's comeback struggles continue at Paris Masters

PARIS－Former world No 1 Andy Murray failed to convert seven match points but said he did not "deserve to win the match as I did not play well enough" after dropping a three-hour thriller to lucky loser Dominik Koepfer of Germany in the Paris Masters first round on Monday.

The 34-year-old Murray, ranked 144th in the world, lacked killer instinct but did at least show steely determination to battle back from a set and a break down to take the match to a third set before Koepfer won 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(9).

Koepfer－a late replacement when American qualifier Jenson Brooksby withdrew with abdominal pains hours before the match－had served for the match in the second set.

However, Murray, roared on by the crowd, roused himself and broke his 55th-ranked opponent before going on to take the set.

The third set was a gripping affair, with Murray saving three break points at 0-40 at 3-3.

Murray, though, could not quite complete a remarkable comeback as he let so many match points slip－two when Koepfer served to stay in the match at 4-5 and then five more in the epic tiebreaker.

It was Koepfer who showed how to be clinical when he converted his first match point.

Murray gave a brutal assessment of his performance.

"The thing I'm most disappointed with was the way that I played tonight, to be honest," said Murray, who will next play the Stockholm event before bringing the curtain down on his season.

"I did really well to get myself in the position to win the match, but I don't think I deserved to win.

"Obviously I had a ton of opportunities at the end to do it, but the way that I was playing tonight was not good enough."

Murray received a wild card for the tournament as he continues to struggle in his return from hip surgery. The Scot's singles win-loss record this year is 13-13.

Earlier, Cameron Norrie, who occupies a role Murray once did in his pomp as British No 1, celebrated his 100th ATP Tour match win, outclassing Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-2, 6-1.

The 26-year-old Norrie has risen to 13th in the world rankings having begun the year at 71st in the standings.

The South African-born left-hander's best moment came when he won the prestigious Indian Wells title last month.

Norrie was initially unaware of his landmark win. "I didn't know about it," he said. "Yeah, it's obviously a great milestone."

Norrie on the rise

Norrie said he was excited about still being a contender for the end-of-season ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, from Nov 14-21, when the top eight players in the Race to Turin rankings will battle it out. Six places are already secured but two spots remain.

"It is always a goal to be in the mix for something like that," said Norrie, who could seal his place in Turin by lifting the Paris trophy.

"I have played some very good tennis and in big matches and you want to be playing with that extra pressure. I could not be more proud of myself to be in contention. We shall see if it becomes reality."

Norrie is in world No 1 Novak Djokovic's half of the draw but the Serbian will be wary if they meet in the quarterfinals.

Djokovic is playing for the first time since Daniil Medvedev dashed his dreams of a Grand Slam sweep in the US Open final in September and he said on Sunday that he is worried about his lack of match play.

The 34-year-old, who perhaps has one eye on the Davis Cup finals, is also playing doubles in Paris. He and Filip Krajinovic beat Australian pair Alex de Minaur and Luke Saville 4-6, 6-4, 10/7 in a super tiebreaker to advance.

He took to the court knowing who his second-round singles opponent would be－Hungary's Marton Fucsovics.

It will be a rematch of their Wimbledon quarterfinal earlier this year which Djokovic breezed through in straight sets.

Fucsovics secured his place in the second round by prevailing in a three-setter against Italy's Fabio Fognini－6-1, 6-7 (8), 7-6(5).

AFP