Andy Murray’s comeback was sidetracked on Monday as he lost 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 to Lucas Pouille in his opening match at the Cincinnati Masters. Pouille had lost his previous three matches to Murray, the last at Dubai in 2017.
Murray, playing as a wild-card at an event he won in 2008 and 2011, saved a match-point in the penultimate game on his serve and another moments later when Pouille was serving for the win. But the Frenchman, who produced 40 winners, closed it out on the third attempt.
Pablo Carreno Busta scored a 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 win over Richard Gasquet, while Kei Nishikori put out Andrey Rublev, 7-5, 6-3.
Important results (first round): Men: Pablo Carreno Busta bt Richard Gasquet 6-3, 2-6, 6-3; Kei Nishikori bt Andrey Rublev 7-5, 6-3; Lucas Pouille bt Andy Murray 6-1, 1-6, 6-4; Denis Shapovalov bt Frances Tiafoe 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-5; Jeremy Chardy bt Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-2; Benoit Paire bt David Ferrer 6-2, 6-2; Sam Querrey bt John Isner 6-4, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (5); Novak Djokovic bt Steve Johnson 6-4, 7-6 (4); Stanislas Wawrinka bt Diego Schwartzman 6-2, 4-6, 6-3.
Women: Victoria Azarenka bt Carla Suarez Navarro 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-4; Svetlana Kuznetsova bt Stefanie Voegele 6-4, 2-6, 7-6 (5); Serena Williams bt Daria Gavrilova 6-1, 6-2.
Alize Cornet bt Jelena Ostapenko 1-6, 7-5, 6-0; Aryna Sabalenka bt Johanna Konta 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.