Andy Murray exited the ATP Dubai 500 event on Wednesday in a fog of frustration, a 6-2, 6-4 second-round victim of Ugo Humbert.
The 36-year-old Scot who won the desert title in 2017 was unable to get his game uncranked 48 hours after a comeback from a set down to open play here.
The 18th-ranked Humbert stormed through on serve, with his former world No. 1 opponent only able to win seven points on return in the 89-minute loss.
Murray’s level of discontent rose in the second set after losing the first down two breaks of serve.
“I don’t have a clue what I’m doing,” he yelled after dropping serve to trailing 2-1 in the second set.
“”It’s an awful feeling on the tennis court.”
Murray, No. 67, never had a break point against Humbert and went down to defeat on the first of three match points.
“It was a great match for me,’ Humbert said. “It’s never easy to play Andy.
“I’m happy with how I’m playing and I’m gaining confidence.
“I was really calm today, I knew exactly what I had to do.”
Murray has not reached a quarter-final since he won Doha just over a year ago.
