Andy Murray's winning streak hits 10 with second straight ATP Challenger triumph

The former world No. 1 didn't lose a set en route to winning in Nottingham, his third ATP Challenger title of the year.

Published Jun 18, 2023

MATCH POINT: F. Fognini def. A. Murray; Rome 1R

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FLASHBACK: Andy Murray went 0-3 at ATP level on clay this spring, and elected to skip Roland Garros.

The grass is always greener for Andy Murray. The 36-year-old's summer resurgence on home soil continued this week Rothesay Open in Nottingham, where he won his second straight ATP Challenger title.

Murray, seeded No. 1 at the event, didn't lose a set in five matches and knocked off French 20-year-old Arthur Cazaux in Sunday's final, 6-4, 6-4.

The Scot elected to skip Roland Garros to have more time to prepare for his summer grass-court campaign, and so far, the former world No. 1's gamble has paid off: He's now won 10 straight matches, having also triumphed last week in Surbiton.

"It was a really good week, I really enjoyed my time here," Murray said in victory. "The courts have played brilliantly, the grounds staff did an excellent job.

"I played really well, got better as the week went on and I'm glad to get through. ... I'm absolutely pumped."

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🤩 @andy_murray is a champion AGAIN 🤩

Andy wins the the #RothesayOpen Nottingham title & goes back-to-back on the @ATPChallenger circuit🌱 pic.twitter.com/j3ZM63eUIR
— LTA (@the_LTA) June 18, 2023

Murray broke serve three times over the course of one hour and 46 minutes, and lost his own just once. He opened up a 5-1 lead in the first set, but never reached set point until he served it out to love at 5-4. In the second set, neither player faced break point until Murray broke at 4-4, as he won the last three games of the match.

Gracious in victory, Murray paid tribute to his younger opponent, who came into the match ranked No. 181 and was playing his first-ever grass-court event.

"He was brilliant ... coming through qualifying and reaching the final," Murray said." I thought he played better and better as the match went on and I'm sure we will be seeing a lot of him in years to come on grass courts."

Murray will next head back to tour-level to compete at the ATP 500 at the Queen's Club, where he's won a record five titles. Looking to extend his winning streak to 11, he'll face No. 7 seed Alex de Minaur—who beat him in the first round of the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters this spring—in the first round.

He'll be up to No. 38 in the ATP rankings on Monday, as he eyes a spot in the Top 32 seeds at the All England Club, where he is a two-time champion.

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