Sports Then and Now

Andy Murray lost in straight sets at the Madrid Open.

British number one Andy Murray’s search for form continues after crashing out of the Madrid Open in the third round.

The Scot lost in straight sets to Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, who ranks at number 36 in the world.

Bellucci took just 91 minutes to dismiss the challenge of Murray, winning 6-4 6-2.

The defeat for Murray may come as something of a shock to those placing regular free bets on tennis after he showed signs of returning to form in April’s Monte Carlo Masters, where he bowed out at the semi-final stage to Rafael Nadal.

Loss in January’s Australian Open final signalled a wretched run of form for Murray, who lost to qualifiers in the first round of his next two tournaments.

Worryingly, early chances to seize control of this game were not taken and with the French Open looming, prospects of significant progress at Roland Garros look bleak given he has never made it past the last eight stage of the major.

Meanwhile, 2009 US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro has pulled out of the tournament due to a hip injury.

The former world number four’s withdrawal from came just hours before he was set to face top seed Nadal in the third round.

Del Potro’s recent form has seen him climb from 484th in the world rankings to 32nd, after being restricted to just three appearances on the ATP World Tour in 2010 after having wrist surgery.

Despite tasting success in the Estoril Open last weekend, the Argentine admitted that he had been feeling pain on his way to defeating Fernando Verdasco in the final.

“The pain started last week in Estoril, between the semis and the final, and the pain is getting worse day by day and I really felt it a lot today, so that’s more reason for not playing,” he said.

“I have experience of injuries so I took the decision not to play. Of course it would have been a nice match for me today but unfortunately I can’t play and hopefully I’ll be ready as soon as I can.”

Del Potro confirmed to those placing a free bet that he will be absent from the forthcoming Rome Masters tournament but insisted that he aims to be back in action quickly with the French Open in mind.

“I want to play as soon as I can,” he added.

“It would’ve been a very nice match today but I can’t play and I really feel sad for that. It’s a nice tournament, nice people here, nice fans, but I can’t. Hopefully I can be ready for playing in Nice and the French Open.”