China Open: Alex De Minaur Begins Campaign on a high after Knocking Out Andy Murray 

Alex de Minaur saved three match points to defeat former World No.1 Sir Andy Murray 6-3, 5-7, 7-6(6) to moved into the second round at the China Open on Thursday night.

The Australian became just the fourth player to earn five consecutive victories against the 2016 champion Andy Murray after beating the 36- year-old Scottish in two hours and 53 minutes.

“I think to be honest we both didn’t bring out best level today,” De Minaur said. “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 mach 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.”

The Australian and World No. 12 will next face second seed Daniil Medvedev or Tommy Paul in the second round. De Minaur, who is 17-3 in first-round matches in 2023, captured the biggest title of his career at the ATP 500 in Acapulco in March.

Elsewhere, Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina earned the 50th hard-court tour-level win of his career when he moved past Chinese wild card Yi Zhou 6-2, 6-2. The 24-year-old, who now holds an 18-5 first-round record in 2023, hit 20 winners to advance after 70 minutes.

Davidovich Fokina will next play eighth seed Alexander Zverev or Argentine Diego Schwartzman at the ATP 500 hard-court event.

Qualifier Matteo Arnaldi continued his impressive run, defeating American J.J. Wolf 6-2, 6-2. The Italian, who competed at the Next Gen ATP Finals in 2022, is up six spots to No. 42 in the Pepperstone ATP Live Rankings.

Arnaldi enjoyed a run to the fourth round at a major for the first time at the US Open earlier this month. He will next meet fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas or Chilean Nicolas Jarry.

Tomas Martin Etcheverry defeated World No. 149 Lloyd Harris 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-3 to earn his 11th consecutive win against players ranked outside the Top 100. The Argentine saved the one break point he faced in the match, advancing after two hours and 54 minutes. The World No. 31 will next play seventh seed Casper Ruud or German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Ugo Humbert drew level in his Head 2 Head series against Lorenzo Sonego at 2-2, downing the Italian 7-5, 3-6, 6-0 to set a second-round meeting against fifth seed Andrey Rublev or Briton Cameron Norrie.