Aix Provence Challenger: 1-7 May 2023. Andy has a Wildcard

[Sallydaisy]

Andy has decided to keep going on the clay and accepted a Wildcard into this Challenger event where hopefully he'll work through a few rounds to up his claycourt game!
:tennis::knight::thumbup:

Per Twitter, Simon Cambers

Getting straight back on the horse! @andy_murray (https://twitter.com/andy_murray)
asks for and receives a wildcard for next week's @OpenduPaysdAix (https://twitter.com/OpenduPaysdAix)

[banskogirl]

I think this is great news. We have to trust Andy and he must be feeling good, no point twiddling his thumbs :lol:

[Elizabeth]

I read Andy is playing doubles with Jamie at this tournament.

[themass15]

I read Andy is playing doubles with Jamie at this tournament.

Could be difficult if Jamie keeps winning in Madrid

[patlowe]

Very high quality field here. I see Andy has drawn his old pal Gael! Should be a fun match.

[Guerkins2]

Very high quality field here. I see Andy has drawn his old pal Gael! Should be a fun match.

Certainly is….

Good news though that Andy is playing

[Teresa]

He never gives up does he? I think he’s mad but all power to him.

[banskogirl]

Do we know when Andy will play?

[themass15]

Do we know when Andy will play?

Tomorrow not before 1300 UK time. Should be available to watch through ATP website

[Hawkeye]

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current-challenger/aix-en-provence/7009/daily-schedule

[exislander]

Players on court - starting soon.

[Jane]

2-1

[exislander]

Was 3-1 now 3-2

[Jane]

5-2

[Jane]

First set to Andy....6-3:thumbup:

[Jane]

2-2....Monfils to serve

[Jane]

Andy gets the win....6-3, 6-2 Well done :cheer::cheer:

[Teresa]

Watched it on Bet365. Well done.

[JAMES4578]

Glad it was fairly comfortable for Andy,well done! Monfils though not the same force really.

[HoopGirl]

Great win for Andy on clay.
Doesn’t really matter who he was playing - this will build his confidence loads - and give him more practice

[banskogirl]

Watched on atp challenger website just now. Nice wee match between two friends.:)

My brother broke his hip on Monday and his operation was today!

[Hawkeye]

Andy plays Laurent Lokoli last up on the main court tomorrow.

https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current-challenger/aix-en-provence/7009/daily-schedule

[Caro]

Tommy Paul match has finished so Andy up soon

[Hawkeye]

Andy breaks for 5-3 and will serve for the first set.

[Hawkeye]

Lokoli breaks straight back.

[Jane]

First set to Andy....6-4:thumbup:

[clancy]

Andy takes the 1st set 6-4.

[Hawkeye]

Andy breaks for 4-2!

[Hawkeye]

Andy consolidates this time, so will have 3 chances to win the match.

[Hawkeye]

Lokoli holds and then breaks, so Andy leads 5-4*...

[Sallydaisy]

erm, back on serve then - Andy just held for 5-4.

[harriet]

ooops! Lokoli straight back

[Hawkeye]

A number of match points come and go, but Lokoli holds. 5-5.

[exislander]

Lokoli holds for 5-5 Can Andy hold this time?

[harriet]

and Lokoli holds serve, Andy had 2 match points

[Hawkeye]

Two break points for Lokoli. He takes the first one to win 4 games in a row, and will now serve for the set.

Criminal.

[harriet]

Andy must be enjoying himself, dropped serve, rather tamely, so guess this an invitation to a 3rd set

[exislander]

Andy finding the stringer service not so good at Challenger level - his racket had not gone.

[Hawkeye]

1 set all.

[harriet]

invitation accepted

[Jan]

:facepalm:

[harriet]

set 3, Andy serving first, and holding, on we go

[harriet]

andy holds, Lokoli to serve at 2 - 3

[lovetennis]

What the heck? I had a visitor arrive when Andy was 5-2 in the 2nd set. Just go back to check the final score and they are in the middle of a 3rd set

[Hawkeye]

Andy has two break points at 4-3*, both saved.

[clancy]

This set could go either way! - Andy should have wrapped it up in the 2nd. x

[Hawkeye]

Andy takes his third break point, and will serve for the match again. I'm not going to get too excited based on the last 2 sets...

[Hawkeye]

0-15
15 all
30-15
30 all.

[Hawkeye]

40-30, and an umpteenth match point...

Saved...

[Hawkeye]

Advantage Murray...

:yahoo:

[lovetennis]

Phewwwwww

[Hawkeye]

Andy wins 6-4 5-7 6-3.

[exislander]

Well, that was hard work but he got there!

[Jane]

Andy gets the win....6-4, 5-7, 6-3:phew:

[themass15]

At last, he made heavy going of that!

[clancy]

Alleluia! - made heavy weather of that. Is he ok?

[harriet]

who is Lokoli? is he a pro player? stats suggest he has barely started a tennis career yet - he lost but must be pretty pleased by how he performed today

[JAMES4578]

Finally Andy gets over the line but certainly was not pretty, still gets the W-well done!

[banskogirl]

Well done Andy! Just the match to take our minds of our real lives :fanning::sleepy::dance:

[Sallydaisy]

QF: Andy v Van Assche is the 3rd match, n/b 2.30pm local time (1.30pm UK).

Full OOP: https://www.atptour.com/en/scores/current-challenger/aix-en-provence/7009/daily-schedule

[banskogirl]

Now saying delayed, rain maybe? I’ve no idea.

[Jane]

There is a wheelchair exhibition before Andy's match

[Jane]

Andy serves and takes the first game.

[HoopGirl]

Where can you see this?

[exislander]

Where can you see this?

Challenger tv on the atp site

[exislander]

Second service hold a lot easier than the first.

[Jane]

4-2

[Jane]

First set to Andy......6 - 2 :thumbup:

[clancy]

Andy takes the 1st set 6-2 and will serve 1st in the 2nd so hope he can complete the match without a 3rd. x

[exislander]

Breaks back 1-1

[Jane]

4-4

[clancy]

A love service game to Andy to make it 5-4. x

[harriet]

Luca to serve at 4-5, does Andy look a tad weary?

[clancy]

5-5, will it go to a tie break?

[harriet]

and on we go, Luca survives 2 match points

[Jane]

6-5 - hope Andy can finish this here

[Jane]

tb time

[harriet]

tie break time

[HoopGirl]

Eek!

[harriet]

andy very careless, Luca will pinch this set soon

[Jane]

:cheer::cheer::cheer: Andy gets the win

[harriet]

raucous yell, guess Andy has won, just 2 sets today

[clancy]

YES, a tight tie break but Andy just clinches the match in 2 sets! Well done Andy - on we go!! x

[exislander]

That puts Andy at live ranking 55, two places above Jack Draper!

[patlowe]

Managed to be able to watch this one today. It meant so much to him to win that one, and to get it done in 2 sets too! I'm all chuffed for him, it's just what he needs.

Luca reminds me of a young Andy, it's the curly hair!

[Hawkeye]

Andy will face the winner of the match on court now between Bublik and Mayot.

[JAMES4578]

Got a bit tight there but Andy stepped up and avoided a 3rd set this time, well done! Bublik or Mayot next.

[banskogirl]

Great reaction and result really as Luca is in the top 100 after winning a challenger in Sanremo and also beating Stan. Lots of talk as he’s the youngest player in the top 100.

Well done Andy!

[Hawkeye]

Andy will play Lucky Loser Harold Mayot of France in the semis tomorrow, probably around 3pm BST. It follows the other semi between Tommy Paul and David Goffin.

[Teresa]

I am glad he is still wining. I have missed the last few matches. My scruffy Romanian Mongrel was put down today. Her arthritis beat her.

[banskogirl]

I am glad he is still wining. I have missed the last few matches. My scruffy Romanian Mongrel was put down today. Her arthritis beat her.

Oh Teresa I’m sorry :sad: big hugs!

[cazza99]

Andy vs Mayot starting shortly. Other match has finished.

[cazza99]

Players on court.

[andyfer]

Live Stream available here.

https://www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour/challenger-tv/challenger-tv-search-results/2023-7009-ms003/2023/7009/all

[Jane]

1-1

[clancy]

I am glad he is still wining. I have missed the last few matches. My scruffy Romanian Mongrel was put down today. Her arthritis beat her.

So sorry to read this; even when we know it is coming, it's still hard to say goodbye to our pets. I am trying to come to terms with the fact that the 2 dogs I have now will be my last but I hate the thought of living without a dog. Take care of yourself. x

[clancy]

Tight 1st set, come on Andy, you can do this. x

[clancy]

Superb - 1st set to Andy 7-5. x

[harriet]

bad luck Mayot, serving second, df on set point

[Hawkeye]

Andy now a double break up in the second set.

[clancy]

Keep going Andy, looking good. x

[Hawkeye]

Andy to serve for the match at 7-5 5-1.

[Jane]

Andy gets the win :cheer::cheer::cheer:

[Hawkeye]

Andy wins 7-5 6-1! Not a straightforward hold to finish things...

Andy will face fellow wild card and #1 seed Tommy Paul in the final at 2pm BST tomorrow.

[clancy]

Andy gets the win - 7-5, 6-1. Monsieur Macron - sorry that our lad had taken so many French scalps this week but our lad deserves a final appearance more than your young lads. x

[lovetennis]

Well done Andy. Lovely to be in a final again

[HoopGirl]

Great match - so excited to see him winning like this again!

[patlowe]

Mayot put up a good fight in the first set, but good to see Andy imposing himself in the second, though he did take a wee detour towards the end of that set, but he got there! Tommy Paul a level or two up, so will be a good test for him tomorrow.

[patlowe]

I am glad he is still wining. I have missed the last few matches. My scruffy Romanian Mongrel was put down today. Her arthritis beat her.

I'm so sorry, Teresa. I feel for you, sending hugs. Hard to part with a devoted pet.

[cazza99]

Sorry to hear about your dog Teresa :group hug:

[JAMES4578]

Andy tightened up a little bit at the end but otherwise a convincing display in the 2nd,even if the French challenge faded,well done! certainly a step up with Tommy Paul so hopefully he performs well.

Sorry to hear about your Dog Teresa.

[patmoren]

Well done Andy, good decision to do the challenger, will give your confidence a boost,. Mum will be pleased you managed it in straight sets!! Good luck in the finaL.

[banskogirl]

Well done Andy :) after the tight end to the first set you just seemed to step it up a bit, even though your opponent faded he did a lot of shoulder shrugging as though he had no ideas left.

Looking forward to a final with good challenge!

[cazza99]

There is a match thread for the final - https://www.andymurrayfanforum.com/forums/showthread.php?5938-Aix-Provence-Challenger-final-Andy-vs-Tommy-Paul-Sun-2-00-pm