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

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.