Murray beats Monfils in Challenger Tour meeting in France

Former world number one Murray, seeking clay court hours on the clock before the start of the French Open later this month, came through 6-3, 6-2 at the second-tier event in the French town of Aix-en-Provence.

FILE PHOTO: Three-time Major winner Andy Murray (in pic) beat Frenchman Gael Monfils in first round of the ATP Challenger Tour event in Aix-en-Provence, France on Wednesday.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray stepped down to the Challenger Tour on Wednesday and defeated fellow veteran Gael Monfils, nine years after the pair’s last meeting.

Former world number one Murray, seeking clay court hours on the clock before the start of the French Open later this month, came through 6-3, 6-2 at the second-tier event in the French town of Aix-en-Provence.

Murray, almost 36, and Monfils, who turns 37 in September, last met in a five-set quarter-final at the 2014 French Open where the British star prevailed 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-0.

Murray, currently at 52 in the world, claimed victory in 82 minutes over his French opponent, whose ranking has slipped to 332 after a seven-month absence due to a foot injury.

Up next for Murray is another French player, 187th-ranked Laurent Lokoli.