AIX-EN-PROVENCE/STARNBERG, May 4, 2023
The quarterfinals of the 10th edition of the Open Aix Provence Credit Agricole, one of the first two ATP Challenger Tour 175 events being held on European soil, are set. The field of the €200,000 signature clay-court tournament is led by World No. 17 Tommy Paul, who defeated French alternate Geoffrey Blancaneaux 6-2, 6-2 on Thursday.
The 25-year-old wild card entry from the United States converted five of his six break-point chances to prevail after one hour and 18 minutes. Paul will next take on Austrian Jurij Rodionov, who battled past Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(5) after two hours and 31 minutes.
The bottom half of the draw is led by Andy Murray. The No. 5 seed, who beat Gael Monfils in straight sets in a blockbuster first-round encounter on Wednesday, continued his fine run of form with a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Frenchman Laurent Lokoli in the second round. The 35-year-old three-time major champion won 52 per cent of the total points played to record back-to-back wins for the first time since Indian Wells after two hours and 42 minutes.
Patience paying off for @andy_murray ⏰#ATPChallenger | @OpenduPaysdAix pic.twitter.com/j1oO7kl0pc
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 4, 2023
“Obviously a very tough opponent in the first round,” Murray said after his triumph over Monfils. “He’s just coming back from a very long injury, it’s not easy especially at our age, we’re not young anymore… He’s been a good friend of mine on the tour. I think we first played each other 25 years ago when we were 11 or 12 years old.”
Before coming to southern France, Murray suffered three early losses at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Miami, Monte Carlo and Madrid. “I’m glad to be back on the court competing again at a high level,” the Scot said. “I’m hoping I can get some more matches here and keep building to get ready for Roland Garros.”
Up next for Murray will be French young gun Luca van Assche. The 18-year-old knocked out his compatriot and No. 3 seed Adrian Mannarino 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in two hours and 20 minutes.
In other quarterfinal action, sixth-seeded Kazakh Alexander Bublik will face local lucky loser Harold Mayot and Belgian David Goffin will play Arthur Fils of France.
