Monitoring Desk
World No 1 Andy Murray suffered a shock second-round defeat in the BNP Paribas Open against Canada’s Vasek Pospisil.
The Scot’s best showing in California came in 2009 as a runner-up to Rafael Nadal and this 6-4 7-6 loss was his first in five meetings against the world No 129.
The 29-year-old was broken four times in total by Pospisil, who celebrated his biggest win on the ATP Tour to secure a third-round clash against Dusan Lajovic.
Murray said: “It’s a disappointing one as I had opportunities in the first set but I didn’t serve well enough.
“I served a few double faults, especially in the first set at important moments, which didn’t help. I really don’t know why I haven’t played my best here over the years.
“He definitely played better in the second set, he was being aggressive and he played some great volleys at important moments. He deserved it.”
Pospisil said: “I felt like I had the ability but to actually go through is a whole new thing. I tried to bring different tactics … versus the other times I played him.
“I didn’t want to give him the same look each time. I wanted to put pressure coming into the net, using my strength, which is my ability at the net and serving well.”
Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was also dumped out by Fabio Fognini with the Italian winning 7-6 (7/4) 3-6 6-4 in a clash which lasted just shy of two-and-a-half hours.
After winning the first set on a tie-break, Fognini lost the second to seventh-seeded Tsonga but recovered well to win a nervy third.
Stan Wawrinka, seeded third, had an easier time of it by beating Paolo Lorenzi 6-3 6-4 and Gael Monfils also progressed with a 3-6 6-0 6-1 triumph over Barbados’ Darian King.
Serbian qualifier Dusan Lajovic was a surprise 6-2 4-6 7-6 winner against 30th seed Feliciano Lopez of Spain and Ivo Karlovic also suffered a second-round exit to Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka, who triumphed 6-4 6-3.
