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Andy Murray beaten by David Ferrer in third round of Shanghai Masters Andy Murray beaten by David Ferrer in third round of Shanghai Masters
(35 minutes later)
Andy Murray has suffered a setback in his bid to qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London next month.Andy Murray has suffered a setback in his bid to qualify for the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London next month.
The Scot was beaten 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 by David Ferrer in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday, a defeat which that lifts the Spaniard above him to ninth place in the qualifying race.The Scot was beaten 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 by David Ferrer in the last 16 of the Shanghai Masters on Thursday, a defeat which that lifts the Spaniard above him to ninth place in the qualifying race.
Only the top eight players in the standings at the end of this month will reach the O2 Arena finals,Only the top eight players in the standings at the end of this month will reach the O2 Arena finals,
Fresh from winning the tournament in Shenzhen and then last week reaching the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing, Murray made a strong start against the world No5.Fresh from winning the tournament in Shenzhen and then last week reaching the semi-finals of the China Open in Beijing, Murray made a strong start against the world No5.
The 27-year-old broke Ferrer in his first service game and dominated the opening set in which he dropped only four points on his own serve. But Ferrer hit back straight away in the second as he started to attack Murray more and immediately earned his first break, which he built on to take the set comfortably.The 27-year-old broke Ferrer in his first service game and dominated the opening set in which he dropped only four points on his own serve. But Ferrer hit back straight away in the second as he started to attack Murray more and immediately earned his first break, which he built on to take the set comfortably.
As Murray’s game began to unravel Ferrer pressed home his advantage, breaking twice more in the decider while Murray failed to fashion a single break point opportunity.As Murray’s game began to unravel Ferrer pressed home his advantage, breaking twice more in the decider while Murray failed to fashion a single break point opportunity.
However, it is not all bad news for Murray, who still has three weeks of tournaments including the Paris Masters in which to muscle into the top eight.However, it is not all bad news for Murray, who still has three weeks of tournaments including the Paris Masters in which to muscle into the top eight.
While Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have already qualified, many of his rivals have struggled to make an impression in Shanghai.While Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer have already qualified, many of his rivals have struggled to make an impression in Shanghai.
Murray is now within touching distance of Milos Raonic, who withdrew in the first round due to illness, while Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov - who sits behind Murray in 11th place - all suffered earlier defeats.Murray is now within touching distance of Milos Raonic, who withdrew in the first round due to illness, while Stan Wawrinka, Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and Grigor Dimitrov - who sits behind Murray in 11th place - all suffered earlier defeats.
I needed to play my best tennis today,” Ferrer told the ATP World Tour website. “I think this match was very important for both players. Today was a good victory.”
Murray, who joined world number two Rafa Nadal, Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka and US Open finalist Kei Nishikori in exiting the tournament before the quarter-final stage, was generous in his praise for Ferrer.
“He barely missed a ball for about a set and a half,” said Murray. “I couldn’t find a way around him. He played just great tennis, especially the last set and a half.
“(At) the beginning of the second set I still had a couple of opportunities there right at the beginning. But after that, I’ve got to give it to him, he played fantastically well and deserved to win.”
Murray said he had not made up his mind yet about where he would compete next as he bids to qualify for the ATP Finals for the seventh successive year.
“We’ll see over the next few days where I decide to go. Hopefully I can play well the last couple of tournaments, try and make a push for London,” he added.
However there is a chance that even finishing inside the top eight will not be enough for Murray to make it to London. A loophole which reserves one place in London for a grand slam champion who does not qualify could yet be implemented should US Open champion Cilic fail to make it, much to Murray’s annoyance.However there is a chance that even finishing inside the top eight will not be enough for Murray to make it to London. A loophole which reserves one place in London for a grand slam champion who does not qualify could yet be implemented should US Open champion Cilic fail to make it, much to Murray’s annoyance.
“If the ATP want their tournaments to be the most important tournaments, which I think they do – it’s the ATP World Tour Finals – you would hope that the players who would get in would be those who accumulate the most points across the whole year on the ATP tour,” Murray said before his match against Ferrer. “But by putting the grand slam champions in then they would be saying the grand slams are the most important events.“If the ATP want their tournaments to be the most important tournaments, which I think they do – it’s the ATP World Tour Finals – you would hope that the players who would get in would be those who accumulate the most points across the whole year on the ATP tour,” Murray said before his match against Ferrer. “But by putting the grand slam champions in then they would be saying the grand slams are the most important events.
“I’m not saying that’s wrong. I’ve put a lot of my time and effort and training into getting prepared for the grand slams and playing the best-of-five-set matches. They mean a lot to all the players. If Marin was to get in placed ninth, he would deserve to be there. Winning the US Open is a great achievement.“I’m not saying that’s wrong. I’ve put a lot of my time and effort and training into getting prepared for the grand slams and playing the best-of-five-set matches. They mean a lot to all the players. If Marin was to get in placed ninth, he would deserve to be there. Winning the US Open is a great achievement.
“But if you want to protect your own tour, then you need to make sure that the tournaments that we are playing throughout the whole year are seen as being just as important as the other ones.”“But if you want to protect your own tour, then you need to make sure that the tournaments that we are playing throughout the whole year are seen as being just as important as the other ones.”