Murray Blows 7 MPs In Stunning Loss To Koepfer At Paris Masters; Djokovic Opens Tues.

Andy Murray played yet another nailbiter, this time the former No. 1 got bitten. Murray found himself in a dogfight against lucky loser Dominik Koepfer and it was the German who came away with an incredible 6-4, 5-7, 7-6(9) win.

Murray was slated to face qualifier Jenson Brooksby but the American withdrew due to an ab injury. Koepfer, who is no slouch, took advantage storming to win the first set then jumping out to a 5-3 bulge in the second. The 27-year-old lefty, though, couldn’t finish off the win.

Murray forced the third and held two match points on Koepfer’s serve at 4-5 and five more in the deciding breaker.

“It was unbelievable,” said Koepfer. “I thought I had it in my hands in the second set serving for it at 5-4. He just made a lot of balls, I didn’t make a lot of balls. That was the difference, and it was just a great fight in the third set. I just tried to stay in the moment and tried to play every point.

“Obviously it’s tough to play against him. He makes so many balls and is an unbelievable competitor. I knew that going in, I was ready for it and just happy I got through.”

Koepfer, who nearly upset Roger Federer in Paris at Roland Garros on the clay, was thrilled to get a second chance in the event after losing in qualifying.

“Honestly, I was a little nervous,” he said. “I didn’t expect to play today, I was hoping that someone was going to pull out tomorrow. But a night match here in Paris, a lot of fans, they had an unbelievable crowd, the first time for me for a while. It’s been a great day. Unexpected, but it worked out and I’m happy.”

Murray’s countryman Cameron Norrie kept his Turin hopes alive with a rout over Federico Delbonis. Aslan Karatsev’s hopes were dashed with a loss to American Sebastian Korda in a final set breaker.

Pablo Carreno Busta, Lorenzo Musetti and Marton Fucsovics were also winners. Fucsovics returns tomorrow to meet top seed and 5-time champion Novak Djokovic. Djokovic will play his first singles match since his US Open final loss to Daniil Medvedev.

Also on Tuesday, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Gael Monfils, Carlos Alcaraz, Grigor Dimitrov and Casper Ruud are also featured.

PARIS INDOORS TUESDAY SCHEDULE
Court Central Starts At 11:00 Am
R64 9 Felix Auger-Aliassime v (Q) Gianluca Mager
R64 (WC) Pierre-Hugues Herbert v Carlos Alcaraz
R64 16 Grigor Dimitrov v (WC) Richard Gasquet
R64 (Q) Miomir Kecmanovic v 15 Gael Monfils
Not Before 7:30 Pm
R32 1 Novak Djokovic v Marton Fucsovics
R32 6 Casper Ruud v Alexander Bublik

Court 1 Starts At 11:00 Am
R64 James Duckworth v 14 Roberto Bautista Agut
R64 Karen Khachanov v (Q) Mikael Ymer
R64 John Millman v 11 Diego Schwartzman
R64 Marin Cilic v Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
R64 Frances Tiafoe v (Q) Marcos Giron