Andy Murray, once again, has lost to Mario Ancic. This time in Barcelona it was 6-4 6-4.

Typically, Murray got off to a slow start and was broken in his first service game of the match. Midway through the set Murray managed to break the Croat's serve to get back in the match. The good work was undone when Andy served at 4-5 and Ancic converted his second set point to take it.

In the second set Ancic saved breaks points in game three for the 2-1 advantage. Andy then surviving some of his own to keep it on serve at 4-4. Then came consistent pressure on the Croat's serve once again as a variety of deuce points ended up in a single break point, only for Ancic to hold. With Andy, again, serving to stay in the match at 4-5, his opponent quickly got up three match points and broke by converting the first to take the second set and match 6-4.

Murray will be hoping he can make some progress in the doubles, playing with Ross Hutchins, before moving onto the masters series events in Rome and Hamburg.

Murray's thoughts on the match
I didn't get that fired up for the match.

I was flat. I was going to be here practising anyway, so I had hoped to get a few matches.

But my priority is to train for Rome and Hamburg. I wanted to continue from last week, but (playing here) is not the be-all and end-all.

I've now got four or five days to get ready for Rome. It and Hamburg are the most important ones going into the French Open. All of the major players should be there, which was not the case last week.

Match statistics (1 image)

You place far too much responsibility on him firing Brad for his poor performance. I don't actually think it would have made any difference if he was still around. If the two of them weren't getting along it'd just be bad for Andy's game and his attitude. We all saw how he played when he was unhappy with his coach (between Christmas and firing Petch in 06). He did win San Jose in that time but, if you remember, Petch wasn't there! An unhappy Andy is an unmotivated Andy.

I agree. (with the whole injury bit)

He did seem to be decent at the end of the year but remember he did have his 'team' (his mum, his agent, Jamie and Carlos) about for most of that. I just don't think that 'Bring back Brad' is the right call. If it didn't work it didn't work. As with A-Rod. Unfortunately, in that example, A-Rod hasn't reached the same heights since. Don't think Andy'll go that way though.

^^^ He will be back in the top 10 by the US Open. If he's not, ban me from this site.

Almost every time i reed something from you about a lost match - you mention this.... ffs, Brad's gone.. there's no getting him back, is there any point talking about it anymore??

A sad loss..but i'm not surprised tbh... if he's still improving though, then it's not all bad..

Yeah I admit that, I loved the Brad partnership and haven't got over it yet.

Oh dear.  Not the result I was hoping to wake up to this morning but not all unexpected

What's disappointing is Andy's comment 'I didn't get that fired up for the match'  Does he physically need a rocket up his arse?  Send him my way - I'm pretty fired up with youngsters at the moment!

Could it not be a mixture of Andy not having one of his best matches and Ancic playing well and returning from injury?  Hopefully its one of them blip things.

Yeah in a way it does but I doubt they'll be complaining

Murrays just annoying now.