Andy Murray recovers from mid-match wobble to reach quarter-finals of Aix-en-Provence Challenger

Andy Murray is into the quarter-finals of the Aix-en-Provence Challenger after navigating a mid-match stumble to beat world No. 187 Laurent Lokoli 6-4 5-7 6-3.

It wasn’t without alarm though as Murray, leading 6-4 5-2, botched his attempt at serving for the match, and had to play another set before he belatedly got over the line.

In beautiful conditions at the Country Club Aixois, the Briton didn’t have things all his own way in the first set, but eventually pulled clear of Lokoli to take it 6-4.

The second set followed a similar pattern, with Lokoli extending Murray into some long rallies, as the home crowd gave their man plenty of vocal backing.

Murray broke to lead 5-2, and though his opponent brought it back to 5-3, the 35-year-old had a chance to close things out on his own serve.

He brought up two match points as proceedings looked to be coming to a close, but Lokoli found a second wind, forging his way back into the game and then sealing the break back with an overhead smash.

The next game was just as dramatic, with Murray not lingering on the setback of the previous game to set up another match point.

He squandered that though with a netted return, and though he brought up another following the next deuce, he couldn’t get it done then either as Lokoli once again covered the net.

The Frenchman went on to level things up at 5-5, and sensationally then broke Murray to win his fourth game in a row.

Suddenly – as Murray had done about 20 minutes earlier – Lokoli was the one serving for the set, and after he had raced to three set points, he took the third to level the match at one set all.

Murray, by now ensconced in an argument with the umpire over a racket that hadn’t been re-strung, at least held at the start of the third set as he sought to rediscover his rhythm.

And it was nip and tuck thereafter as the two men slugged their way to the mid-point of the set, before Murray made his move at 4-3 up.

After earning numerous break points on Lokoli’s serve, he finally converted one, letting out a huge roar as he had a second chance to serve for the match.

Murray brought up match point at 40-30 and though Lokoli saved that one, the Scot wasn’t to be denied, sealing victory when Lokoli fired a backhand long.

Luca Van Assche, another Frenchman, awaits Murray in the last eight.

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