David Ferrer stuns Andy Murray in opener

Below-par: Andy Murray had to undergo treatment for a thigh problem
13 April 2012

Andy Murray's chances of reaching the semi-finals at the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London were dealt a major blow today as he lost his opening match 6-4 7-5 to Spain's David Ferrer.

The world number three had never been beaten by Ferrer on hard courts before but he seemed to be hampered by a leg problem and paid for a first-serve percentage well below 50%.

Murray, who was broken five times and let leads slip in both sets, will probably now need to beat world number one Novak Djokovic and in-form Czech Tomas Berdych if he is reach the last four at the O2 Arena.

Murray had given himself plenty of work to do as he dropped the first set 6-4 against the impressive Spaniard.

There were glimpses in the sixth game, not least a searing backhand pass that clinched a quite brilliant point, much to the delight of an O2 Arena that disappointingly was far from full.

The Scot, watched by good friend David Haye, was making life difficult for himself with a poor first-serve percentage and, when he did get a chance to break in the ninth game, he was made to pay for being too passive.

Murray appeared to be struggling with a possible thigh problem and he was certainly not moving particularly well.

Unsurprisingly, the trainer arrived to see Murray before the start of the second set, massaging and stretching out the world number three's left leg and hip.

Ferrer, the most dogged of Spanish baseliners, is certainly not the player one would want to face when struggling physically but Murray received an immediate boost with a break in the opening game after his opponent netted a simple backhand.

Again the 24-year-old's break did not last long, Ferrer winning four successive points on his opponent's serve to level at 2-2, and Murray looked in real trouble when a mis-hit and net-cord helped the Spaniard to two more break points in the sixth game, but this time he held on.

And in the next game he raised the pace to move a break ahead once more, only to give it straight back with a double-fault.

It was a fascinating contest, if far from a great match, but Murray's weakness on serve eventually proved the decisive factor as Ferrer brought up a first match point at 5-6 and took it with a backhand winner.

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