Monday 13 March 2017 14:36, UK
Barry Cowan echoed Andy Murray's sentiments that there was little to explain defeat to Vasek Pospisil but praised the world No 129's tactics.
The world No 1 fell at his first hurdle at Indian Wells, going down in straight sets to the Canadian qualifier to continue his disappointing form in the California heat.
Murray was beaten by Federico Delbonis last year in the third round and has just a solitary final in the event to his name, losing to Rafael Nadal in 2009 and has now only gone beyond the last eight once in the last eight attempts.
Cowan believes there have been mitigating circumstances in the past but, like Murray, was left to reflect on the Scot's defeat with a measure of disbelief and no small amount of praise for the opponent.
"He has never played his best tennis at Indian Wells, he's made just one final in 2009 and has always struggled," Cowan told Sky Sports News.
"I would say there have always been reasons why. Last year he only just returned after the birth of his first child and there have been a couple of years where he has suffered heartache at the Australian Open and it has taken him time to readjust.
"But this year, he had just won a title, he went to Indian Wells early and he said he was playing well in practice but unfortunately for him nothing went right - it was un-explainable how it happened.
"He was absolutely competing as Andy always does. He was twice up a break in the first set but lost his serve in the next game and a few half chances never went his way."
Pospisil has been working with Mark Woodforde, the former doubles specialist and multiple Grand Slam doubles champion, and the Canadian is a better player than his current ranking of 129 suggests. He has been as high as 25 in the world.
And Cowan admits that he got everything right in handing Murray a first defeat to a player ranked outside the top 100 since 2011 with praise coming for the attacking nature of his game.
"I will say for Pospisil that he got his tactics absolutely spot on," Cowan added.
"He took to the attack to Murray and he took took time away from the world number one. It allowed him to go and play his own game and to his own strengths which is what you have got to do."
You can follow the Indian Wells Masters 1000 throughout the week on Sky Sports
