There have been positives to take for Murray on his sixteenth look at Indian Wells, the place he completed runner-up to Rafael Nadal in 2009.
Having claimed a straight-set win over David Goffin to achieve the second spherical, Murray delighted the group in a high-quality opening set towards Rublev and a shocking backhand passing shot on an important level allowed him to carry serve for a 5-4 lead.
It seemed as if which will show pivotal as he maintained momentum to achieve a complete of 4 set factors within the following recreation.
But Rublev held on, forcing a tie-break which he would clinch on the second alternative, to go away Murray empty-handed regardless of a promising show in a 66-minute first set.
Well supported on court docket two, Murray continued to show flashes of brilliance and beat Rublev with a wonderfully executed lob because the gamers fought for a bonus within the second set.
But, first to face strain factors in a service recreation he had led 40-0, Murray couldn’t stand up to a 3rd break level as Rublev moved 3-1 forward.
The 26-year-old Rublev, who gained an attraction after being defaulted from final week’s Dubai Tennis Championships, wouldn’t let up from there – breaking Murray once more earlier than finally taking his fourth match level.
Former world primary Murray has stated he hopes to compete at one other Olympic Games earlier than he retires, however to realize that he should be inside the highest 56 of the ATP rankings on 10 June.
The two-time Olympic champion, who turns 37 in May, is presently ranked 61st and gained simply two of his eight matches within the lead-up to Indian Wells.
With inputs from BBC
