Murray Misses 3 MPs v De Minaur In Beijing; Medvedev v Paul, Alcaraz Friday

In the match of the day at Beijing, Alex De Minaur saved three match points in a thriller over Andy Murray 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(8-6) to advance to the second round.

Murray, a former champion, led the Australian 5-2 in the third with multiple match points. But De Minaur came back to level and then saved another match point in the breaker before winning it.

“I think to be honest we both didn’t bring out best level today,” De Minaur said to the ATP. “It was a scrap fest and was not pretty but I am happy I was able to get my first win in a long time when I have saved some match points.

“I kept my head screwed on and I told myself to keep trying and to keep backing myself and eventually I was going to find my level. I am very happy to turn that match around.”

Both players broke three times, but Murray failed to close it out serving for it at 5-3.

De Minaur, who finished with eight love holds, is now 5-0 against Murray.

Also on opening day in Beijing, Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry battled past Lloyd Harris of South Africa 6-7(5-7), 7-6(7-4), 6-3.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain easily handled Yi Zhou in straights 6-2, 6-2.

The Friday line-up features first round play from the top seeds Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev. Alcaraz meets German Yannick Hanfmann in a first-time tour-level clash.

Daniil Medvedev collides with Tommy Paul, Holger Rune takes on Felix Auger-Aliassime and also No. 7 Casper Ruud draws Jan-Lennard Struff and Alexander Zverev duels Diego Schwartzman.

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