• Abierto Mexicano Telcel

Murray crashes out of Acapulco after Dimitrov thriller

Andy Murray was taken to yet another final set at the event © Getty Images

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Andy Murray crashed out of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco after losing to Grigor Dimitrov in a final set tiebreak in the semi-finals.

The British No.1, who vowed to make a better start after beginning all of his matches poorly at the event, won the opening set 6-4, but lost out in two tiebreaks to suffer a first defeat to Dimitrov, going down 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(3).

Murray broke his opponent to race into a 4-1 advantage in the first set. However, the Wimbledon champion had to survive a mini-fightback after Dimitrov closed the gap to one game at 5-4. Murray though was able to clinch the set without any problems on his serve.

A tiebreak was required to separate the pair in the second set, and it was one where Dimitrov dominated to take it 7-5 and force a decider. It was the first time Dimitrov had taken a set off Murray in three previous meetings.

Into the early hours of the morning, the arena were treated to some wonderful play as both players pulled each other around the court, but it was Dimitrov who seized the early initiative to break Murray in the first game of the final set.

However, serving for victory at 5-4, Murray fought back to level at 5-5, and put the pressure on his opponent by going 6-5 in front. This time, Dimitrov did not buckle on his serve, and he took the semi-final into another tiebreak.

Murray could not assert his authority, and it was Dimitrov who held his nerve with some heavy groundstrokes to collect the win and book his place in the final, where he will play Kevin Anderson after the South African beat Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1 5-7 6-4.

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