World number five Andrey Rublev defeated Andy Murray 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the final of the world tennis championship exhibition in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
Both players held two of their opening games but Rublev went forward when he solved Murray in the fifth match after a series of demonstrations who fought hard from behind the court.
Russia aged 24-year-old Ran Murray tattered with strong clogged but England managed to hold on to Rublev pressure paid and he took a set with an amazing forehand on the line.
The 34-year-old Murray, a world number one number and three grand slam Champion, went down to a bad start in the second set when he lost servicing in the first match before fighting back to force the tiebreak to be dominated by Rublev.
Victory.
“I got three good matches here …
Andrey played very well today.
He has a very big game …
I just need to find a way to change these matches against this top player,” Murray said.
Previously, the big winner of Rafael Nadal fell to the second successive defeat to the return of a foot injury when he lost 6-7 (4), 6-3, 10-6 to Canada Denis Shapovalov in the match to decide third place.
Spain Nadal, made his first tournament appearance since Washington opened in August, climbed a tiebreak close to the opening set but struggled with his time because Shapovalov found his victory and closed victory.