Andy Murray loses and booed against Benoit Paire in first match since woeful Aus Open exit

Andy Murray had to endure jeers from the French crowd as he failed to bounce back from his poor Australian Open by losing to Benoit Paire in the first round at the Open Sud de France. In his first match since losing to Tomas Etcheverry in Melbourne, the three-time Grand Slam champion took the first set but then let things slip, eventually being beaten 2-6 7-6 6-3.
Murray had the perfect start on the Court Patrice Dominguez, opening up with a solid service game before breaking in dramatic fashion. Three times Paire failed to take game point on his own serve, but when the Scot forced advantage, Paire had a fault overturned by Hawkeye – and when Murray complained to the umpire the Montpellier crowd roundly booed him.
The 36-year-old responded by taking the game, though, and then rapidly held again to take early control at 3-0. Paire’s trademark drop shot helped him get on the board in the next game, but he was clearly rattled as he regularly gestured to the umpire between points.
Murray continued to look at ease on his own serve as his opponent’s frustration grew, and a second ace took him within a game of the opening set. Paire, whose last tour win came in Washington in 2022, then handed the ex-world No.1 two set-points by netting with an open court gaping and duly served a double fault to finish matters.
Murray went into the clash having won all of his previous three matches with Paire, but as a fourth straight defeat looked inevitable, the Frenchman came out aggressively in the opening game of the next set and forced his first break point. He couldn’t take it and failed to convert a second chance before finally fashioning a third opportunity and executing a crisp volley.
Suddenly, Paire had his tail up and two aces helped him take the next game to love. And now it was Murray looking flustered, slicing a backhand wide before regaining his composure and avoiding a double break.
But just when the home favourite looked odds-on to level that match at 4-3 up, the inconsistent play that has so often plagued his career was apparent again. An error-strewn service game saw him gift Murray a 0-40 lead before a double fault restored parity in the second-set.