An exasperated Andy Murray mouthed towards his coaching team, evoking a sense of resignation, during his exit at the 2024 Qatar Open.
On Tuesday, Murray looked like he steered his season back on track with a fine win over Alexandre Muller in the first round of the ATP 250 tournament in Doha. It was his first match win since October 2023 when he won in Basel.
But despite snapping a six-match losing streak, Murray could not secure back-to-back wins. He was beaten by Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in three tiebreak sets. The match itself lasted three hours and 26 minutes, strengthening Murray's track record as the ATP's workhorse.
However, one point which epitomized Murray's current struggles happened deep in the second set. At 5-5, the Briton had a sniff at a breakpoint. After a short exchange, Murray netted his shot. Immediately, his disappointment became noticeable.
And the Scot was heard saying, "This game is not for me anymore. It's not for me anymore, this game," in reaction to his error. He was able to win the second set to restore parity, but 18-year-old Mensik overcame a wobble in the third set to clinch victory.
The three-time Grand Slam champion has now lost six of his eight matches this year. Consequently, he has failed to win back-to-back matches on the ATP Tour since the Toronto Masters in early August last year.
Murray has had to fend off retirement questions this year and recently hit out at a BBC reporter calling him to step away from the sport. Since his return from two hip surgeries, the 36-year-old has not advanced beyond the third round of a Grand Slam tournament.
But reflecting on his stay in Doha, he stated there were sportives to pick up this week, especially with the way he was able to dictate the matches. Murray will conclude his Middle Eastern trip by playing at the Dubai Championships, which begins on February 26th.
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