Andy Murray crashes out in second round at Qatar Open with defeat by Jakub Mensik after gruelling three-hour match

Updated 21/02/2024 at 18:47 GMT

Andy Murray was defeated in a marathon three-tiebreak encounter by the Czech teenager Jakub Mensik in the second round of the Qatar Open as the Briton's poor start to the 2024 season continued. Murray, who turns 37 in May, came back from 5-2 down the final set to force a deciding tiebreak, but he did not have enough in the tank to see out a win, as Mensik took it in three hours and 23 minutes.

Highlights: Murray defeated by Mensik after marathon match in Doha

Andy Murray was dealt yet another defeat as his poor start to the 2024 season continued, with the Scot being downed 7-6(6) 6-7(3) 7-6(4) by Jakub Mensik at the Qatar Open.

Murray, who had already lost four of his five matches this year, was hoping to re-find his form in the Middle East, with the Briton beating Alexandre Muller in the opening round.

However, he was met by the determined teenager Mensik, with the Czech’s powerful hitting from the back of the court enough to wear the 36-year-old down in three hours and 23 minutes, the longest match in the history of the Qatar Open.

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Murray, who made the final of this event last year, found himself 5-2 down in the final set, with Mensik serving for the match, but the Briton - who will fall out of the world’s top 60 with his early exit - rallied resolutely to break back twice and force a deciding tiebreak.

The Scot had been on a run of six straight defeats before his win over Muller, but any glimpse of good form that he showed against the Frenchman was not on display here, with Mensik, the world No. 116, proving too much for him.

"I'm just speechless right now, I don't know what to say," Mensik said afterwards.

"It was a tough match, [Murray] is a great player and I watched him on the TV winning Wimbledon twice, it is unbelievable at this age he can still compete with the best players of the world."

The Czech, who reached his first tour-level quarter-final, will play the no. 1 seed Andrey Rublev in the last eight, with the Russian beating Richard Gasquet 6-3 6-4 in just 57 minutes.

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