- Andy Murray celebrated his 37th birthday by taking victory after his injury return
- The British tennis star also tried out a new Yonex tennis racket
- Murray was presented with a birthday cake by the ATP Challenger Tour
For his 37th birthday, Andy Murray received a cake, a new racket and an 11pm victory in the lowly Bordeaux Challenger.
The cake came from the tournament organisers, the new racket is the Yonex which he is trying out this week, and victory was gifted to him when world number 219 Kyrian Jacquet retired with an injury, trailing 7-6, 2-0.
It was Murray’s first match on clay in almost exactly a year, and his first on any surface since tearing his ankle ligaments in Miami in March.
And it was the first time in his entire career he hadn’t had a Head racket in his hand as the Scot pondered a shock equipment change for his final months on tour.
Given all that obscurity, this was a welcome victory, even if it came through retirement and against a French qualifier who had never beaten a top-100 player and possibly never even met a three-time Grand Slam champion.
Andy Murray was presented with a cake by the ATP Challenger Tour on his 37th birthday
He also claimed victory against world number 219 Kyrian Jacquet on his return from injury
The match started after 10:00 PM local time, as the schedule was compressed by rain earlier in the day. But Murray is the star attraction in south-west France this week and so the locals dressed warmly and packed the stands.
The first ten matches were closer than Murray would have liked, as his 23-year-old opponent landed some solid forehand blows. But from 5-5 he won 12 points in a row to take the first set and an early break in the second.
Jacquet played more and more wildly and he stopped, which seemed to indicate a groin injury.
Murray will face a tougher test in the last 16 on Thursday when he plays another Frenchman, Gregoire Barrere, who has been ranked as high as No. 49 in the world.
Murray has also tried out a new Yonex tennis racket this week, moving away from Head
Murray shook hands with Jacquet, who had to withdraw after sustaining an injury
Murray has not played since March due to an ankle injury, but made his return on Wednesday
Playing in what will almost certainly be his final season, Murray is looking to find his clay legs as he builds to his first French Open appearance since 2020.
He hopes to get a few games under his belt this week before heading to Geneva and then Paris.