Andy Murray stunned by Aslan Karatsev at Zhuhai Championships to dash hopes of Cameron Norrie quarter-final

Updated 23/09/2023 at 14:26 GMT

It was not to be for Andy Murray, who was knocked out of the Zhuhai Championships by the Russian Aslan Karatsev. Despite taking the first set, the three-time Grand Slam champion slipped away in sets two and three to bow out of the competition. It is now a second defeat in as many meetings with the 30-year-old, who previously overcame Murray in the final of the Sydney Classic last year.

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Andy Murray suffered a surprise second-round defeat to Aslan Karatsev at the Zhuhai Championships.

The Scot was beaten 4-6 6-3 6-2 by the Russian and dashed hopes of an all-British quarter-final clash with Cameron Norrie.

The former world No. 1 beat Ye Cong Mo on Thursday to advance into this stage of the competition, while Karatsev overcame Matteo Arnaldi in straight sets.

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Murray drew first blood in the match after winning an eventful first set after 72 minutes of play.

It initially looked like it would be plain sailing for the former world No.1, who raced into a 5-2 lead after breaking his opponent's serve twice.

There was an admirable response from the world No. 63, who broke back on the Murray serve before forcing his rival to serve out the set.

The Scot was rattled and staved off two break points in the 10th game before eventually prevailing on his third set point.

However, momentum was firmly with Karatsev at that point as he broke Murray twice early in the second set.

The 30-year-old appeared to be in cruise control after moving 4-1 ahead, and although the three-time Grand Slam winner broke back, the match was soon level.

The third set was won in even more dominant fashion by the 2021 Australian Open semi-finalist, who moved into a 4-0 lead after breaking the Murray serve twice.

The remaining four games all went the way of serve as Karatsev secured victory on his second match point.

Karatsev’s win means he has now emerged victorious in both meetings with Murray after previously overcoming the Scot in last year’s Sydney Classic final.

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