• BNP Paribas Open

Rusty Murray rues early exit in California

Andy Murray admitted he 'didn't do anything particularly well' © PA Photos

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Andy Murray admitted he was feeling rusty during his premature exit at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.

Murray has played just one match since his Australian Open final defeat to Novak Djokovic in January, and he looked short of match practice with four double faults and a catalogue of unforced errors.

A finalist at Indian Wells two years ago, Murray slumped to a third straight defeat at the hands of world No. 143 Donald Young. Murray had his chances against the American qualifier, but he rued his inability to hit the ground running in California.

"Early on in tournaments when you're not hitting the ball well, running a lot of balls down and making your opponent play, you can sometimes get the job done," Murray said. "But I didn't move particularly well and he hit a lot of winners. He gained in confidence I guess from hitting more winners.

"I started the match well and then, when it got close to the end of the first set, I didn't do anything particularly well. The crowd were for him. He started playing better. I didn't find my way back into the match."

Murray warned Young that consistency was the key to reaching the top of the men's game.

"The toughest thing in the men's game for guys to break through has been the consistency. That's what you need to do if you want to try to get close to the top of the game. That's what Donald has to try and do."

Young admitted that Murray was far from his best, but was delighted to claim his first win over a top-ten player.

"It's by far the biggest win of my career," Young said. "I thought I played pretty consistent. I'm sure he didn't play his best today. I got a little nervous, some double faults that didn't make it halfway up the net.

"I've been in this position a couple of times with a few players and had not won the match. I just told myself this time I was going to see it through and not let the nerves get the best of me."

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