Andy Murray wins 1000th tour-level match in front of delighted home fans at Queen’s

Wildcard Andy Murray defeated Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to move into the second round of the cinch Championships at Queen’s Club in London.

This was just the tonic that a struggling Murray needed to kick off his grass-court campaign, gaining valuable match time and some much-needed momentum ahead of the most important part of the season for him.

Despite some clearly hampered movement, as has been the case for some time now, it was a vintage Murray performance on the grass courts of London.

Backed by a delighted home crowd all the way, Murray used the atmosphere to energise himself in the decider after Popyrin had taken the second set to level the match.

Murray served excellently throughout the contest, and took his break point chances well in order to clinch a tight win against a dangerous opponent.

He will play Australian Jordan Thompson next.

London ATP 500, other first-round results (Queen’s Club, grass, EUR 2.255.655, most recent results first):

• Mariano Navone vs. Jack Draper
• Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (Q) beat Ben Shelton (6): 6-3, 7-6 (3)
• Brandon Nakashima beat Daniel Evans (WC): 4-6, 6-3, 0-0 ret.
• Billy Harris (WC) beat Tomas Martin Etcheverry: 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
• Carlos Alcaraz (1) beat Francisco Cerundolo: 6-1, 7-5
• Tommy Paul (5) beat Sebastian Baez: 6-4, 6-4
• Alejandro Tabilo beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina: 7-6 (6), 3-6, 6-1
• Sebastian Korda beat Karen Khachanov: 7-5, 7-6 (5)
• Lorenzo Musetti beat Alex De Minaur (2): 1-6, 6-4, 6-2
• Taylor Fritz (4) beat Taro Daniel (Q): 6-3, 6-3
• Matteo Arnaldi beat Ugo Humbert (8): 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (6)
• Milos Raonic beat Cameron Norrie: 6-7 (6), 6-3, 7-6 (9)
• Jordan Thompson beat Holger Rune (7): 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-3
• Rinky Hijikata (Q) beat Frances Tiafoe: 7-5, 4-6, 1-0 ret.
• Grigor Dimitrov (3) beat Adrian Mannarino: 6-1, 6-2