Andy Murray news: Brit handed a beating by Felix Auger-Aliassime

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Andy Murray in action

Andy Murray slipped to a straight-sets defeat against Canadian young gun Felix Auger-Aliassime at the Rotterdam Open.

Murray beat the dangerous Alexander Bublik in his opening match, but he has found it difficult to string a run of wins together since his hip operation three years ago and found the 21-year-old world number nine too powerful.

The three-time Grand Slam winner did not manage to force a single break point in their only previous meeting, a straight-sets defeat at the 2020 US Open.

He righted that wrong by breaking in the fifth game of the first set, but Auger-Aliassime had already won the previous four games.

The Scot, who won this tournament in 2009, clawed a break back early in the second but smashed his racket in frustration as he immediately dropped serve again to trail 3-2.

There was a bizarre moment on match point when Murray’s cap flew off, causing him to stop playing as Auger-Aliassime hit a winner.

He was afforded a let, but Auger Aliassime duly went on to convert a second match point for a 6-3 6-4 win and a meeting with Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie in Friday’s quarter-final.

“From the start of the match I was ready and focused and I think that is why I was able to produce a high level from the first point,” Auger-Aliassime said in his on-court interview.

“He made me bring out my best tennis and I am really happy with the way I played and that I was able to stay ahead. [To] win in straight sets is a great relief.”

Murray has confirmed he will be back in action later this month when he plays in Dubai, where Novak Djokovic is due to make his return to action.

Andy Murray Felix Auger-Aliassime

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