PARIS — Andy Murray wasted a match point before being knocked out 5-7, 7-6, 6-2 by Polish qualifier Jerzy Janowicz following a sloppy display in the third round of the Paris Masters on Thursday.
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Scot Murray lost focus as he served for the match in the second set and was then battered by the hard hitting Janowicz, who ended the contest with a forehand winner and collapsed in joy.
“He probably gained some confidence from that (match point saved) and started playing better, he played aggressive, he hits a very flat ball, so when he’s hitting it well it comes through the court a lot.”
The world No 3’s defeat means that for the first time since the 2010 Paris Masters was won by Swede Robin Soderling, a Masters title will be claimed by a player outside of the Big Four.
As another energy-sapping season draws to an end, world No 4 Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer opted not to play in the French capital while Serb Novak Djokovic was dumped out of the tournament by American Sam Querrey in the second round on Wednesday.
Argentine seventh seed Juan Martin del Potro will also have a few extra days to prepare for next week’s ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 in London as he was beaten 6-4, 6-3 by local favourite Michael Llodra.
