Murray Rues Missed Chances In Defeat to Koepfer In Paris Masters

Former world No 1 Andy Murray failed to convert seven match points after battling back from a set and a break down only to lose a three-hour thriller 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (11/9) to lucky loser Dominik Koepfer of Germany in the Paris Masters first round on Monday.

Murray ranked 144, had been given a wild card but while the 34-year-old lacked killer instinct he did show steely determination to take the match to a third set.

Koepfer -- a late replacement when American qualifier Jenson Brooksby withdrew with abdominal pains hours before the match -- had served for the match in the second set.

However, Murray, roared on by the crowd, roused himself and broke his 55th-ranked opponent before going on to take the set.

The third set was a cracking duel with Murray saving three break points at 0-40 at 3-3.

Murray will rue letting so many match points slip -- two when Koepfer served to stay in the match at 4-5 and then five more in the epic tie-breaker.

It was Koepfer, though, who showed how to take chances when they come along as he converted his first match point.

Murray gave a brutal assessment of his performance.

"The most disappointing thing to me was the way I played tonight," said Murray, who will play in the Stockholm event before bringing the curtain down on this season.

"I did really well to get back into the match and had a ton of opportunities to win it.

"However, I did not deserve to win the way I played tonight, it was not good enough."

Earlier Cameron Norrie, who occupies a role Murray once did in his pomp as British No 1, celebrated his 100th ATP tour match win, outclassing Argentinian Federico Delbonis 6-2, 6-1.

The 26-year-old British number one has risen to 13th in the rankings having begun the year 71st in the world.

The South Africa-born left hander's best moment came when he won the prestigious Indian Wells title last month.

Norrie was blissfully unaware of having secured a landmark win.

"I didn't know about it," he said.

"Yeah, it's obviously a great milestone."