'Rubbish' Murray crashes out again

Scot leaves court to jeers from crowd after suffering his third consecutive defeat

(EPA)

When does a bad patch become a crisis? Andy Murray talked about the need not to panic but the world No 4 was left to reflect last night on his worst sequence of results for four years after being crushed 6-2, 6-1 by Philipp Kohlschreiber in his opening match here at the Monte-Carlo Masters.

After a third consecutive loss – his worst run since his first season on the main tour in 2006 – the 22-year-old Scot did not mince his words. "I was just rubbish," he said following his 63-minute humiliation. "I played a rubbish match. I didn't play well and that was it. That was all there was to it. I played really, really badly."

Murray was playing in the final of the Australian Open less than three months ago, but in recent weeks has looked a pale imitation of the man who pushed the World No 1 Roger Federer hard in Melbourne.

Following his controversial second-round defeat to Janko Tipsarevic on his reappearance in Dubai, when he admitted he had experimented with his game, he has lost to Robin Soderling in the quarter-finals in Indian Wells, to Mardy Fish in his opening match in Miami (his first defeat for three years against a player outside the world's top 100), and now to Kohlschreiber, the world No 33 and the sort of opponent Murray would normally beat comfortably.

The sequence will cost Murray his world No 4 ranking in next week's updated list – he will be overtaken by Juan Martin del Potro, despite the fact that the Argentine has not played since the Australian Open because of a wrist injury – but he will be more concerned with the manner of his latest setback.

Murray said he had practised well and had felt good going into the match, taking the nerves he had felt as a good sign. This was his first clay-court appearance of the year, but the same was true for Kohlschreiber and the conditions – a still afternoon on a day of glorious sunshine on the Côte d'Azur – were perfect.

In contrast, every aspect of Murray's game was sub-standard. He put only 37 per cent of first serves in court, made a succession of mistakes on his ground strokes and always looked uncomfortable on his returns, which are so often his greatest strength. Murray did not force a single break point and indeed won just eight points on return of serve. He made 26 unforced errors (to Kohlschreiber's 13) and hit just five winners.

While the diners on the terrace that overlooks the exclusive Monte-Carlo Country Club did not resort to pelting the Scot with lobster or foie gras, last year's semi-finalist did leave the court to jeers from some sections of the crowd. The most well-heeled audience in world tennis clearly expected more for their money.

"It's the first time for a few years that the court has felt so small," Murray said afterwards. "I just couldn't find the court. When it's like that, it's difficult to play. I tried a few different things. I tried serve and volleying a couple times and I tried hitting some high balls, but it didn't really make a whole lot of difference. I couldn't get the ball in the court."

There have been times in the past when Murray has screamed in frustration at his mistakes, but on this occasion there was not even a hint of a "C'mon!" as the Scot suffered in silence.

"The thing for me that I have to look at from today was that I literally hardly hit a ball in the court," he said. "That's what lost me the match. It's difficult to be jumping around and getting yourself fired up if you're making mistake after mistake and basic errors and not getting into any long rallies so that you lose your rhythm. That was what I was frustrated with today, not the mental side."

Murray is due to appear next at the Rome Masters the week after next but may yet seek to play in Barcelona next week. However he is still in the doubles competition here and will partner Ross Hutchins against the Bryan brothers this afternoon.

While it would be hard to overstate how badly Murray has played in his last two matches, some perspective is needed. The Scot wants to peak at the Grand Slam tournaments and still has time to find his form before next month's French Open.

"I have to make sure that I don't panic," Murray said. "Everyone can go through periods where they don't play well. I've lost to good players. Obviously the scoreline has not been very close in the last couple of matches. I just need to start playing better."

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the top two seeds, eased through their opening encounters. Nadal won his 28th match in succession here when he beat the Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-1, 6-0, while Djokovic beat France's Florent Serra 6-2, 6-3.

Diary of defeat: Murray's slump

Hopman Cup, January

Representing Great Britain, lost both both singles and mixed doubles (with Laura Robson) finals to Spain.

Australian Open, January

Lost in straight sets to Roger Federer in the final.

Dubai Championships, February

Defeated by Serbian Janko Tipsarevic (6-7, 6-4, 4-6) in the second round.

World Tour Masters, Indian Wells, March

Beaten by Robin Soderling (6-1, 7-6) in the quarter-finals.

Miami Masters, March

Knocked out in his first match to then-101st-ranked American Mardy Fish.

Monte Carlo Masters, April

Lost yesterday in his opening game to Philipp Kohlschreiber.