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Andy Murray saved his French opponent five match points to beat Laurent Locolin in three straight sets at the ATP Challenger Tour 175 event in Aix-en-Provence.
Murray won 6-4 5-7 6-3 in the second round of the Open Aix-Provence Crédit Agricole in a marathon match that lasted two hours and 42 minutes.
The 35-year-old three-time major champion – ranked 52 in the world and 135 places higher than Locoli – shadowed a tight first set on French clay.
See you in the quarter Andy 👋
Murray won back-to-back for the first time since India Wells and survived Lokoli 6-4, 5-7, 6-3.#ATPChallenger | @OpenduPaysdAix pic.twitter.com/oM4d3fu2Fb
– ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 4, 2023
The fifth seed looked to make short work of the match in the second set as he led 5-2.
But Murray failed to take two match points and Lokoli was animated and waved his hand in the air to energize the home crowd to make it 5-4.
Another two match points followed and it was over for Murray, and in the next game Lokoli’s shots proved a powerful weapon against the Scot.
Lokoli soon took the second set and Murray was unable to end his 5 game losing streak.
Eight in Aix 🤩
🇺🇸 Paul vs Rodionov 🇦🇹
🇧🇪 Goffin vs Phils 🇫🇷
🇬🇧 Murray vs Van Asche 🇫🇷
🇰🇿 Bublik vs Mayotte 🇫🇷#ATPChallenger | @OpenduPaysdAix– ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) May 4, 2023
Both players were impressive in the decider, leading 5-3 until Murray capitalized on the pressure and earned a third break point.
Although Locoli made a stunning forehand winner to save the fifth match point, Murray eventually wrapped up the win – to his obvious relief.
It was the first time India had secured back-to-back wins since Wales in March.
Murray, who beat Gael Monfils in the first round, will face French third seed Luca van Assche in the quarter-finals on Friday.
