Chris O'Connell has beaten a top-25 opponent for the first time in ten months, knocking Jan-Lennard Struff out of the Qatar Open 6-4-6-4 in a boilover success for the Australian.
Ranked 40 places lower O'Connell booked himself a second round match in beating the German in an hour-and-a-half. He broke twice in the first set to establish a 5-2 lead and while Struff broke back once the Sydneysider served out at the second attempt.
He then broke in the fifth game of the second set and held on to the advantage to earn a second round meeting with Emil Ruusuvuori. The No.43-ranked Finn beat qualifier Giulio Zeppieri 7-6 (7-2) 7-5.
It was O'Connell's best result since stunning Alexander Zverev in Munich last April. He had lost six times to top-25 opposition since.
There was also a bonus for Alexei Popyrin after No.8 seed Tallon Griekspoor, who had been his likely second round opponent, withdrew. That left qualifier Hugo Grenier to face lucky loser Max Marterer who he defeated 7-6 (7-5) 7-5 in their first round tie.
Grenier is 151st in the world Popyrin 46th.
Also in Doha on Tuesday Andy Murray finally ended a wretched a six-match losing streak with victory over France's Alexandre Muller 6-1 7-6 (7-5).
The 36-year-old held his nerve in a tight second set tie-break to secure his first win since October 2023 and renew hopes of a late career swansong.
Victory over the world No. 75 seemed imperative if Murray was to continue to quell retirement talk and progress in a tournament in which he reached the final last year.
Murray, who needed treatment for a knee injury during the first set, said: "The last few months have been tough on court for me. I've clearly not won many matches and lost a lot of close ones as well.
"I'm proud I managed to get through the match and get another win. Hopefully this is the start of a better run."
He now plays 18-year-old Czech Jakub Mensik who is threatening to break into the top 100.
with PA
