Qatar Open: Andy Murray beats Alexandre Muller in Doha to end losing streak
- Published
Andy Murray had not won since a first-round victory at the Swiss Indoors Basel event in October 2023
Andy Murray earned his first win of the 2024 season with a superb performance to beat France's Alexandre Muller in the Qatar Open first round.
Britain's Murray ended a six-match losing streak with a 6-1 7-6 (7-5) victory over the world number 75.
A manic celebration showed what it meant to the 36-year-old, who also raised his arms in relief when reminded it was his first victory of the year.
Murray, ranked 50th, plays 18-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik in the second round.
"Obviously the last few months have been tough on the court for me, I've not won many matches and lost a lot of close ones, so I'm delighted to get through," said Murray.
"I'm proud I managed to get through the match, get a win and hopefully this is the start of a better run."
Murray's victory also came in spite of a knee injury which required treatment early in the first set.
Already a break up at 2-0, it looked as though it could be another frustrating day for the former world number one when he felt a tweak in his left knee and asked for a medical timeout after he held for 3-0.
Speaking to the physio on court, the Scot explained he had been feeling pain in the area for a few days and had received treatment for a cyst on his meniscus the day before Tuesday's match.
To his relief he was able to play on unhindered, continuing to show some of the best tennis he has shown in what has been a chastening start to the season.
Murray finds the performance he knew was within him
Murray had looked a shadow of himself at the recent Australian Open, and during two subsequent ATP Tour defeats in France, but he insisted he would continue to "keep fighting" as he aimed to quell discussion about when he might retire.
The three-time Grand Slam champion also said he was determined to produce performances he knew he was still capable of and his level against Muller was certainly a step in the right direction.
Serving has been a particular issue for Murray in recent months, but an encouraging start saw him land a high percentage of accurate placements and back them up with aggressive groundstrokes.
A whipping forehand winner secured the double break and, after saving a first break point of the match for Muller, two-time champion Murray wrapped up a dominant opening set.
Murray, who reached the final in Doha last year and beat on the Muller on the way, had to work much harder as the contest continued.
The former US Open and Wimbledon winner fought off two break points as the Frenchman targeted a 3-1 lead in the second set, and Murray continued to hit cleanly off both sides from the baseline - also moving well and successful when coming forward - as he was rewarded with a break for 4-3.
However, his first serve deserted him in the next game as Muller levelled and the set moved into a tie-break.
Murray, who showed no further signs of bother with his knee, trailed 5-3 but his resilience and quality enabled him to carve out a morale-boosting victory, with the relieved celebrations indicative of the importance of this result.