Andy Murray says he’s “not having fun with” his tennis after struggling an agonising opening-round defeat by Australian Alex de Minaur on the Paris Masters.
The 36-year-old fell 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-5 to the world quantity 13, who he has by no means managed to beat in six conferences.
Murray twice served for the match and missed match level in one other gruelling contest lasting simply over three hours.
“I am probably not having fun with it simply now by way of how I really feel on the courtroom and the way I am enjoying,” Murray mentioned.
“The final 5, six months have not been that pleasurable, so I must attempt to discover a few of that enjoyment again as a result of enjoying a match like that there is not a lot positivity there.
“After I play level, I am probably not getting behind myself after which within the vital moments, that can to win and combat that has at all times been fairly a giant, huge a part of my sport,” he added.
Murray smashed his racquet twice in the course of the match in opposition to De Minaur and the loss means the Scot has nonetheless not gained a match on the Paris Masters since profitable the match in 2016.
Regardless of his negativity, Murray didn’t give any indication that he might retire however mentioned he would wish to do “loads of work” if he desires to maintain enjoying.
“It isn’t simply going to be like one or two weeks of coaching to get me to the place I must get to, it is going to need to be loads of work and constant work to offer myself an opportunity,” he added.
Murray, who has misplaced 5 of his final six matches, did not convert three match factors in opposition to De Minaur in Beijing final month and this newest loss in Paris is his fourth in opposition to the 24-year-old this yr.
His opponent saved set factors earlier than pinching an in depth opening set with a slim tie-break victory.
Murray recovered with a extra assured efficiency within the second, breaking within the ninth sport to stage and power a decider.
Murray’s report in opposition to De Minaur this yr additionally contains defeats at Monte Carlo and Queen’s, but it surely appeared like the previous world primary would possibly break that shedding streak after discovering himself a double break up within the deciding set.
He had match level at 5-4 however missed it with a protracted return and smashed his racquet on the ground in anger after handing De Minaur a break-point alternative, which he took to stage at 5-5.
Murray grew to become more and more exasperated as he knocked the drinks bottles and towel off his bench earlier than failing to carry both of his subsequent two service video games and squandering alternatives to power a remaining set tie-break.
He once more smashed his racquet on the ground as he despatched a return into the web and De Minaur closed out the win.
Fellow Briton, Cameron Norrie, pulled out of the match with a knee damage however is predicted to be match sufficient for the Davis Cup Finals on 23 November.
World primary and two Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz acquired first-round byes and can enter the match within the second spherical together with the six different prime seeds.
