Benoit Paire came back from one set down to beat Andy Murray 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 after 2 hours and 43 minutes at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier earning his first ATP Tour-level win since August 2022.
Paire has achieved his first ATP Tour level since Washington 2022. He was playing in his first tour-level match since Roland Garros 2023.
Murray holds a 0-3 record this year after losing in the first round in Brisbane and at the Australian Open.
Murray broke Paire’s first service game to race out to a 3-0 lead in the first set and earned a second break in the eighth game to close out the first set 6-2 in 38 minutes.
Paire bounced back by breaking Murray in the first game of the second set. Murray broke to draw level to 4-4 to set up a tie-break.
Michael Mmoh beat Benjamin Bonzi 6-3 7-5 after 1 hour and 36 minutes to earn his first ATP Tour indoor hard-court win with a break in each set. Mmoh hit 10 aces and saved both break points he faced.
Murray won three consecutive points from 1-5 down and saved a set point to fight back to 6-5. The British player dropped the next point on his serve and Paire sealed the tie-break 7-5 to level the match.
Both players traded breaks in the second and third games of the third set. Paire opened up a 5-3 40-0 lead. Murray saved four match points, but Paire converted his fifth chance to close out the match.
Paire set up a second round match against either Harold Mayot or Lucas Poille.
