Andy Murray misses out on meeting with Novak Djokovic after defeat to Yannick Hanfmann in Geneva Open first round
Updated 21/05/2024 at 15:16 GMT+1
Andy Murray marked his return to the ATP Tour from injury with a 7-5 6-2 defeat to Yannick Hanfmann in the first round at the Geneva Open. Play was suspended on Monday due to rain, with the score at 7-5 4-1 before the German prevailed on Tuesday. Murray made his first appearance on tour since rupturing his ankle ligaments. Jack Draper is also out after a straight sets loss to Tomas Machac.
Murray knocked out of Germany Open by Hanfmann
Video credit: SNTV
Andy Murray suffered a first-round exit at the Geneva Open to No. 59 Yannick Hanfmann after a 7-5 6-2 defeat, in a match resumed after Monday's rain delay.
Hanfmann will now play world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the second round, as Murray missed out on a 37th ATP meeting against the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
The Serb was handed a wild card into the ATP 250 tournament as he ramps up his preparations for the French Open, which gets underway this month, live on Eurosport and discovery+.
Djokovic suffered a surprise defeat to in-form Alejandro Tabilo at the Rome Open last week.
The Chilean won the last 32 contest 6-2 6-3 in Djokovic's first tournament since a defeat to Casper Ruud in the Monte Carlo semi-finals on April 13.
In Geneva, Hanfmann had the chance to break Murray for the first time at 4-4 in the first set, but he squandered two break points before the Scotsman survived.
But the German seized the opportunity in Murray's next service game, winning four points in a row to take a 6-5 lead before going on to seal the set with another four unanswered points.
Hanfmann strengthened his grip on the match as he took a 2-1 lead in the second set on Murray's serve, after the former world No. 1 struck a mistimed half volley into the net.
As a thunderstorm brewed in Geneva, there was a pollen invasion which appeared to distract Murray and it gave Hanfmann the chance to grab a double break. Hanfmann took it as Murray struck a backhand into the net and moved into a 4-1 lead.
The match was then suspended as the rain began to pour down.
Less than an hour later and the decision was made by tournament organisers to move the remainder of the match to Tuesday.
Hanfmann finished off the job with little fuss the next day, as he held the next service game before prevailing on his second match point
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Fellow Brit Jack Draper also suffered defeat in the first round - going down in straight sets against Czech player Tomas Machac.
Draper failed to convert three break points in the fouth game of the first set, which was eventually decided on a tie-break.
Machac took the breaker 8-6 to go ahead in the tie before blowing the British No.2 away in the second set 6-1.
Draper loses in lyon
Fellow Brit Dan Evans went out in the first round of the Lyon Open after a tight three-set defeat to Arthur Rinderknech.
Rinderknech won the match 6-3 4-6 7-6(6) in front of a boisterous home crowd in a three-hour contest.
Evans had a match point at 6-5 up in the third-set tie-break, but Rinderknech battled back by winning the next three points in a row.
Stream the 2024 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+
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