Paris Masters: Alex De Minaur Sends Andy Murray packing in First Round while Fokina, Bublik match on 

Alex de Minaur fought from 2-5 down in the third set against Andy Murray for the second successive match against the scot on Monday to reach the second round the Paris masters.

Recall, that the 24-year-old who is 14-4 in first rounds this year came from 2-5 down in the third sets in Beijing last Month, saving three match points to down Andy Murray.

This time, the Austie saved one match point to defeat former champion Murray 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-5 in a three-hour battle against the former World No. 1 in Paris and will next play French wild card Benjamin Bonzi or Serbian lucky loser Dusan Lajovic.

De Minaur maintained his modest hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals with his 43rd victory of the year. Currently ranked 13th in the ATP Race To Turin, he is 685 points behind Holger Rune, who holds the eighth and last qualifying position.

Murray was attempting to win his first match at the ATP Masters 1000 event since that run seven years ago, having taken the trophy in Paris in 2016.

Elsewhere, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina defeated American Ben Shelton 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3 to win his 30th ATP Masters 1000 match.

After Tallon Griekspoor defeated Christopher Eubanks 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4, Davidovich Fokina will take on the Dutchman next.

Frances Tiafoe’s chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals outside of the tournament were dashed when he fell to Alexander Bublik.

The World No. 33 overcame American Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4 to earn his first Masters 1000 hard-court win since Miami in 2022.

After the Chilean defeated Alexei Popyrin 7-5, 7-6(6), Bublik, who won 30 of his 34 first-serve points against Tiafoe, will play Nicolas Jarry in the second round.

In order to advance to the second round, Roberto Bautista Agut defeated Czech Jiri Lehecka 6-4, 6-2, earning his first victory at the tour level since June. The Spaniard, who was injured and skipped the US Open, will next play either Hubert Hurkacz or Sebastian Korda.