Upsetting 2024 for Andy Murray fans as the British ATP legend is booed on court after his shocking loss against world no. 112 Benoit Paire

Andy Murray has third consecutive first-round exit in the 2024 season.

Upsetting 2024 for Andy Murray fans as the British ATP legend is booed on court after his shocking loss against world no. 112 Benoit Paire

Andy Murray upset after a defeat (Image via The Sun)

British tennis legend Andy Murray‘s horrendous start to the 2024 season continued as the 36-year-old faced a third consecutive first-round exit. Murray bowed out of the Open Sud de France in Montpellier after losing to World No.112 Benoite Paire in three sets. The Briton also had to face booing from the crowd.

Despite taking the first set 6-2, Murray lost the match in three sets as Frenchman Paire fought back to land his first Top 50 win since the 2022 Australian Open with a 2-6 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 success at the ATP 250 event after two hours and 43 minutes.

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The Briton had to also face booing from the local crowd as Murray argued with the chair umpire. After Murray raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, his opponent Paire benefitted as he saw a fault overturned by Hawkeye. Murray, meanwhile, seemed unhappy as he argued with the umpire and hence faced booing from the crowd.

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This probably threw Murray off guard as he lost the next two sets. Eventually, it was a third consecutive defeat for the three-time Grand Slam champion in the 2024 season. Before this game, Murray was beaten by Tomas Martin Etcheverry at the 2024 Australian Open and Grigor Dimitrov in the first round of Brisbane International.

Is it curtains for Andy Murray?

Counted among the stars of the game during his prime days, Andy Murray is having a tough time on the tour. While injuries have consistently pegged him down, the Briton does not look like his old self where he fought till the end. Three back-to-back first-round exits only draw the clouds of uncertainty over Murray’s career.

Andy Murray
Andy Murray (Via: Imago)

The 36-year-old has already confirmed that the 2024 Australian Open was most probably his last match in Melbourne. After his loss to Etcheverry, Murray looked disheartened as he talked about the absence of the feeling he used to have while waking off the court.

It's a definite possibility that will be the last time I play here. In comparison to the matches that I played here last year, it's the complete opposite feeling walking off the court. Yeah, wish I involved the crowd more. Just disappointed with the way I played… a tough, tough way to finish.
Andy Murray said. (H/T: The Mirror)

It is worth mentioning that Murray had a tough 2023 season as well. The Briton lost more matches than he won last season. Out of the 33 matches played, Murray lost 17. The three-time Grand Slam winner had to face first-round exits at eleven tournaments.

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