Murray’s ATP Tour return ends in narrow defeat in Montpellier
Former world number one Andy Murray’s return to the ATP Tour ended in defeat to Egor Gerasimov at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
Britain’s two-time Wimbledon champion, still working his way back to form after undergoing hip surgery two years ago, went down 7-6 (8) 6-1 to the world number 83.
Murray, who was unable to compete at the Australian Open after testing positive for Covid-19, instead played at a lower-level Challenger tournament in Italy where he reached the final before heading to France.
In his first AT P Tour match of the year, the 33-year-old Scot was edged out of a tight first set which lasted an hour and 10 minutes before Gerasimov ran away with the second.
Eighth seed Jan-Lennard Struff lost 6-3 6-4 to fellow German Peter Gojowczyk and the all-French clash saw wild card Benjamin Bonzibeat Lucas Pouille 7-6(6)6-2.