Andy Murray has bowed out of the BNP Masters in Paris after a 6-1, 3-6, 4-6 defeat to Radek Stepanek (CZE).
After a grueling schedule since returning from a six week injury lay-off which has seen him play six matches in ten days, Murray struggled to recover from his late night finish against James Blake (USA) in the second round yesterday.
It was testament to the Briton’s character that he started the match in such emphatic fashion, breaking the World No.14 in the second game of the opening set and then again in the fourth to open a commanding 4-0 lead.
Stepanek was unable to stem the tide and Murray sealed the first set in just 20 minutes with a suburb drop volley.
However, far from being a formality, the second set saw Stepanek show why he is ranked in the top 20, as he broke Murray in the second game of the second set and as Murray seemingly tired, his opponent went on to open up a three game lead.
Despite some battling service games from the British No.1, he was unable to hold off his rejuvenated opponent, eventually succumbing 3-6 to level the match.
As the players entered the deciding set the momentum had clearly shifted and the Briton was unable to muster the strength that saw him dispatch Blake less than twenty four hours earlier.
Stepanek continued to dominate the contest in the third set, breaking the Murray serve in the opening game and following it with a strong service game.
Murray fought back and held service twice before his opponent broke decisively in the seventh game to open up a 5-2 lead. There was to be one last effort from the World No.4 as he won back to back games with some stunning strokes before Stepanek sealed victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
With the climax to the men’s season at the Barclays ATP Tour Finals in London just two weeks away, the event in Paris further intensifies the race for the final qualification places.
Nicolay Davydenko (RUS) has reached the event at the O2 arena despite losing his third round tie with Robin Soderling (SWE) earlier today.
The 6-4, 7-6(6) victory for the Swede means he is still in contention to fill the final qualification place as he meets recent Swiss Indoor champion Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals in Paris.
The other players still in contention include Fernando Verdasco (ESP) despite his 6-3, 3-6, 4-6 third round defeat today to Martin Cilic (CRO), and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga (FRA), who reached the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Gilles Simon (FRA).
The final player who could still potentially qualify is Fernando Gonzalez (CHI) who must continue to progress in the tournament with a win later tonight against World No.5 Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG).
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