Andy Murray: Former world No. 1 to Challenger final in Aix-en-Provence | Tennis news

Andy Murray will aim to win his third ATP Challenger Tour title and first since 2005 this weekend in France. He has a record of 36-16 at the ATP Challenger level and has lifted trophies in Aptos and Binghamton.

Andy Murray reached the final of the ATP Challenger event in Aix-en-Provence to step up his clay-court preparations ahead of the French Open.

The Scot secured a return to the top 50 with victory over Harold Mayot to remain on course for his first title since Antwerp in 2019.

Murray, currently ranked 52nd, took a late wild card into the second-tier tournament after losing in the first round of the Madrid Open and has taken advantage of the opportunity with four straight wins.

They have all come against French players and Murray ousted the 21-year-old Mayotte, ranked 241, 7-5 6-1 to set up a final against the American. Tommy Paul.

One consequence of the decision to extend the clay-court Masters events in Madrid and Rome for two weeks has been strong Challenger fields this week, with Paul a top 20 player and semi-finalist at the Australian Open in January.

Murray has certainly gained confidence during the week and pulled well clear of seven straight games, Mayo bowing to the pressure on him with a double fault to drop the opening set.

Finishing out matches has been a struggle at times for Murray in recent years, and he faltered a bit, losing two match points at 5-0 before finally using his fifth chance to grab it.

It will be Murray’s second final of the season after February’s Doha ATP Tour where he lost to Daniil Medvedev.

If Murray beats Paul, he would claim his first Challenger-level trophy in 18 years.

He also moved into the top 40, which would boost his hopes of reaching Wimbledon.