Aix Provence Challenger final - Andy vs Tommy Paul - Sun 2.00 pm

[cazza99]

Thought Andy deserved a match thread as he got to the challenger final

[Gary D]

Ranking-wise Paul should win easily, but looking at his stats he's not done as well in recent years on clay compared to his earlier results.

[clancy]

Andy so deserves this after all his hard work but it won't be easy. Everything crossed for him. x

[JAMES4578]

unfortunately poor start,Andy double break down at 4-1, come on! Better service game there though.

[clancy]

Hurrah, on the board. x

[Gary D]

For those unable to watch, it sounds like Tommy Paul has two supporters in the crowd, the rest are the Andy Murray Fan Club......they're desperate for something to cheer about!

[Jane]

First set to Paul....2-6 :sad:

[clancy]

A quick
and not so sweet 1st set goes easily to Paul at 6-2 but perhaps signs of a fight now on the cards. x

[Hawkeye]

First set to Tommy Paul, 6-2.

[JAMES4578]

First set to Paul 6-2, Andy was playing a bit better towards the end of the set so hopefully can put more pressure on the top seed early in the 2nd.


A bit of a turnaround now as Andy goes up 3-0, Paul has dipped but Andy showing much better form!

[Hawkeye]

Andy's turn to be up a double break! 4-0.

[Jane]

5 - 0

[JAMES4578]

Paul avoids a bagel, will surely play better in expected 3rd-some wild errors though of course Andy finding form.

[Jane]

One set all:thumbup:

[clancy]

Anything you can do, I can do better! Andy takes the 2nd set 6-1. Everything to play for! Keep the pressure on Andy. x

[Hawkeye]

:coaster::roland:

[cazza99]

:yahoo:

If connecting laptop to TV via HDMI cable, does anyone know how to make the sound work. It did the other day but not now.

[exislander]

Anyone would think Andy was the higher ranked player in this match!

[clancy]

2-1 to Andy. Paul must be getting demoralised now.

[Jane]

:yahoo:

If connecting laptop to TV via HDMI cable, does anyone know how to make the sound work. It did the other day but not now.

Maybe you have hit a mute button on challenger tv

[Sallydaisy]

Andy holds for 4-2
:nailbiter:

[Sallydaisy]

And breaks Paul to go 5-2 up and will serve for the match ...
... now I'm really nervous!
:lol:

[Teresa]

You and me both. But he has two cracks at it.

[Sallydaisy]

:yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

2'6, 6'1, 6'2.

[Teresa]

Well done.

[Jane]

:trophy::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo::yahoo:

[Hawkeye]

:yahoo:

The coverage doesn't hang about!

[clancy]

Magnifique - Andy takes the 3rd set and wins the match and deservedly so! x

[Gary D]

2-1 to Andy. Paul must be getting demoralised now.

+1

[cazza99]

Maybe you have hit a mute button on challenger tv

I was getting sound on laptop but really low. Had to go on a youtube video to find how to change settings on laptop.

[cazza99]

:yahoo: :yahoo:

[Gary D]

I think Murray's reputation got to Paul. Seems strange for a top 20 player though.

[harriet]

good old days?

[exislander]

Live ranking now showing as 42 - a huge improvement!

[cazza99]

A good clay confidence booster.

[cazza99]

Live ranking now showing as 42 - a huge improvement!

Maybe Andy should play more challengers and lesser main tour tournaments to get ranking up.

[JAMES4578]

Stirring fightback from Andy, once he got going was clearly the better player today, well done! Thought Paul would have had more resistance in the decider but struggled to make an impact, role reversal in the rallies from early on. of course he has had some wins over much higher ranked opponents in recent years. certainly a bit of a boost and hopefully can perform well in some of the bigger events.

[JAMES4578]

Maybe Andy should play more challengers and lesser main tour tournaments to get ranking up.

Sometimes Andy has not performed that well in challengers mind you, this was his first challenger title since 2005.

[clancy]

From my shout when he clinched it, you would have thought he'd won a grand slam! I'm so happy for him and he must be thrilled at his play over the week. x

[Hawkeye]

I agree re playing more Challengers, as winning is a habit. What are the rules regarding entry re rankings?

[Sallydaisy]

Spotted on Twitter:

A nice reminder that Andy Murray is the ONLY PLAYER EVER to have won every type of singles tournament there is:
- Olympics
- Davis Cup
- Grand Slam
- ATP Finals
- Masters 1000
- ATP 500
- ATP 250
- Challengers
- Futures
- Junior Grand Slam

[banskogirl]

Brill Andy, I don’t think many would’ve been surprised if you’d lost this match but you really stepped it up!

Well done :bravo:

Anyone else hear Flower of Scotland as Andy came onto court?!

[jackie55]

Well done Andy, must feel great to win another tournament, hopefully the first of many more for this year:thumbup:

[HoopGirl]

Fantastic - he was slow to start and I thought he it didn’t bode well but once he got going he was firing down aces.
Shame we couldn’t see the ceremony but so pleased for him.
I hope he keeps this momentum going

[Caro]

Absolutely brilliant! So happy for another title, don’t care that it’s a challenger! Winning certainly is a habit and this will surely help Andy to get that winning feeling back

[patlowe]

I couldn't watch this one today, was away in beautiful Donegal all day, and out of communication. But such wonderful news to come home to. I thought he might have had quite the tussle, but judging by the score, and the comments on here, he seemed to have played very well and got the better of Tommy quite handily in the end. So very pleased and happy for him.

[patlowe]

Spotted on Twitter:

Now, that's a stat!

[david1610]

Saw the highlights afterwards. So pleased for Andy! Hope this gives him more confidence going forwards! Well done Andy! :)

[HoopGirl]

And today I hear that with this tournament win Andy is at his highest ranking since his hip surgery - 42!

[supergran]

Enjoyed watching this match so much. Absolutely thrilled and happy for Andy. Now up to 42. What a fighter. Giving up is just not an option and it was an intelligent decision to play in this Challenger. So proud of him. Well done Champ. ��

[harriet]

first tournament win for 4 years

[supergran]

Same here. Couldn't contain my excitement which lasted most of the evening.

[pabbers]

Heartwarming.

[Genbrit]

Unfortunately missed this one. Was out and about in Ponta Delgada and the Azores. Typical but maybe I've been jinxing him all along!!! We're somewhere off the French coast on the way to Cherbourg. As I've said in other posts, today is the first day Ive been able to post although have been able to read what's been going on and managed to watch all his other matches this week.