Top Seed Andy Murray at a loss to explain another Indian Wells missed opportunity

Andy Murray was defeated in his first match at Indian Wells by number 129-ranked player Vasek Pospisil on Saturday night, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), another missed opportunity for the world number one player at the CA tournament, one of two Masters 1000 events that he has never won.

The defeat came at the hands of Canadian qualifier Pospisil, whose low ranking does not do him justice. The Canadian player made it to the quarters of Wimbledon last year. The 26 year-old was ranked as high as #25 in 2014 and is in the midst of a comeback to get back to the top 50 this year. The seeds of his resurgence were in his winning match (and almost-win in doubles) against Great Britain in the Davis Cup quarters just last month. But he has a lighter side too, he recently launched a Youtube channel to chronicle his journey through several charming videos done by his brother Tom, aptly called “Bounce.”

That’s exactly what he did on Saturday, bounced the world number one out of Indian Wells. He’s also been working with a new coach, Australian Mark Woodforde. No doubt that his win over Murray, his first in their five matchups, will make a great chapter in his return quest.

“I think now everything is kind of gone into place,” Pospisil said last month to TSN.ca. “I’m working with a new coach and feel like the process is in place again. Things are going in the right direction.”

It sounds like the renewed focus is working. The Canadian dug deep throughout the match and hit spectacular winners when it counted most, taking the first set away from Murray after he lead 3-1. The focus was there as he earned an unbelievable six games in a row to claim the first set. The tension could be read all over Kim Murray’s face, the Scotsman’s wife, as she looked on from the stands.

“He’s always played that way, maybe he was doing it better this evening,” Murray said after the match, according to The Guardian. “He was maybe a bit more solid from the back, a bit more consistent from the back of the court.”

As lackluster as Murray seemed in the first set, he rebounded in the second. The three-time grand slam champion evened up that set, forcing a tie-break. The pro-Pospisil crowd was on edge as the British player surged to 6-5, after having been down 6-2 in the tie-break. But after Pospisil hit another forehand winner, the Canadian was able to walk away from the biggest win of his career.

“I’m kind of speechless,” the 26-year-old said in an on-court interview. “I wasn’t expecting to come out here and beat Andy. I had confidence in myself but I knew I had to play a perfect match.”

After an incredible second half of 2016 that culminated in the two-time Gold medalist achieving the #1 ranking after 7 years as #2, Andy Murray has been finding it hard to strike a commanding presence this year. Despite his dominance over Novak Djokovic that he developed last summer with several wins on the ATP tour, taking the top ranking from him, and defeating him at the ATP Finals at the end of the year; he lost to him in their only matchup in 2016 at the Quatar finals. After going out in the fourth round of the Australian Open, the Glasgow native redeemed himself with a maiden title at Dubai last month.

Andy Murray has never performed well at the BNP Paribas tournament and the first round loss is another missed opportunity in a competition where he had the easiest draw among the Big Four. He made it to the final in the Palm Springs desert only once, in 2009, and lost to Rafael Nadal. With the Spaniard and Roger Federer gaining in rankings after their splendid Australian Open final, the lopsided fourth quarter of the first round has them both in the bracket in addition to Novak Djokovic. Only Murray had lesser known players to battle at the beginning of the CA tourney. Entering the Masters 1000 event for the first time ranked #1, this year was the time for him to capitalize.

Although the loss at Indian Wells was to another serve-and-volleyer, similar to Mischa Zverev’s game in the fourth round defeat in Melbourne, Murray blamed his weak serve.

“It was obviously a disappointing one as I had opportunities in the first set but I didn’t serve well enough,” Murray said afterwards to BBC Sport. “I served a few double faults, especially in the first set at important moments, which didn’t help things.”

Andy Murray is still in the tournament, however, continuing to play doubles with compatriot Dan Evans, ranked 41. The knighted player will likely retain his world #1 ranking, with him losing only 45 points from Indian Wells. With over 2,000 points above Novak Djokovic, he will probably keep his hold through at least May of this year (Murray: 12,040 compared to 9,825 for the Serb). However, Indian Wells will continue to be a question he can’t seem to answer.

“I don’t know exactly why it is because at practice here I play well,” he said in his post-match conference, according to Sports Illustrated. “I really don’t know why I haven’t played my best here.”

With his victory over Murray, the British Columbian native is likely to gain the momentum he needs to continue his comeback initiative. He requires a ranking of 104 for an automatic place at the French Open. The win over the world #1 should boost the 26 year-old’s resolve.

“I felt like a big result was coming, because I believe in my abilities, but just kind of had to put the pieces together again,” he said after the match, according to The Guardian. “Obviously to beat the number one player in the world is incredible. I mean, it’s the biggest win of my career, and I’m just thrilled right now.”

Serena Williams may be out with an injury, but big sister and Australian Open runner-up, Venus, is still in the third round at Indian Wells. After losing the first set to Jelena Jankovic 1-6, the world #13 rallied to even it up in a tie break 7-6 (5), and turned the first loss on its head by equaling it on her side, 6-1, to win the match. This is Venus Williams’ first third round advancement since 2001, where she withdrew from a match with her sister, with the jeering crowd that lead the two sibling competitors to boycott the tournament for 13 years. Up next for the CA native is #40 ranked Lucie Safarova.