Andy Murray: Former champion exits Dubai Championships at the hands of Jannik Sinner | Tennis News

Andy Murray will have to wait for his 700th career win after a straight-sets defeat against Italian Jannik Sinner at the Dubai Tennis Championships; world No 1 Novak Djokovic takes on Karen Khachanov for a place in the quarter-finals later

Andy Murray suffered a second-round defeat to Jannik Sinner in Dubai

Britain’s Andy Murray suffered a comprehensive straight-sets defeat to fourth seed Jannik Sinner at the Dubai Championships on Wednesday.

Murray was unable to create a single break point chance throughout his second-round contest against one of the rising stars of the men’s game and fell to a 7-5 6-2 loss.

The Scot battled well in the first set which went efficiently to serve from both ends until Sinner struck, breaking 2017 Dubai winner Murray to love for 6-5.

Murray got to 30-30 in the 12th game, but a mighty Sinner first serve and a stunning forehand winner later and the set had slipped away.

Sinner, already ranked 10th in the world at the age of 20, broke again with ease at the start of the second and Murray had to save two break points just to get on the board.

However, with Sinner coming forward aggressively and putting Murray away at every opportunity, the 34-year-old won just one more game on his way out after one hour and 43 minutes.

What’s next for Murray?

The three-time Grand Slam champion will make finding a permanent coach his top priority ahead of the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Indian Wells and Miami where the world No 89 will be hoping to gain direct entry via a wild card.

After splitting with his long-term coach Jamie Delgado ahead of the 2022 season, Murray has also trialled German Jan De Witt, while also working with Colin Fleming and Stan Wawrinka’s coach Dani Vallverdu in recent weeks.

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