Andy Murray could not contain some heartfelt screams of joy after ending a six-match losing streak stretching back to October with first-round success on Tuesday at the ATP event in Doha.
The three-time Grand Slam champion finally put his disappointment to bed with a 6-1, 7-6 (5) defeat of Frenchman Alexandre Muller.
Murray, 36, reached the Doha final a year ago and is hoping to re-live those glory days in the Gulf at the current edition.
The two-time tournament winner (2008-2009) who lost finals here in 2015 and 2023, was overjoyed to finally see the end of his frustrating poor form.
“The last few months have been really tough on court,” the former No. 1 now ranked 50th, said.
“I’ve lost a lot of close matches, this one was also tight at the end.”
Murray swept the first set but as well-matched in the second by the 27-year-old qualifier, who led 5-3 in the tiebreaker before the Scot pulled out the winning result on his first match point,
“I’m delighted to go through,” Murray said, adding: “I’m surprised I got through this match and get a win under my belt.
“My team has been working hard to find solutions and get me through to this moment. Hopefully this is the start of a better run.”
