Andy Murray lost in straight sets to Nikolay Davydenko in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championship.
World number five books his place in the last four
Andy Murray lost in straight sets to Nikolay Davydenko in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championship.
The British number one had won the last three meetings against Davydenko without dropping a set, but he was unable to recapture that form as he was beaten 7-5 6-4.
Murray was far from convincing in his second round victory over Fernando Verdasco on Wednesday and Davydenko took full advantage of his patchy form.
The Russian was the better player in a close first set and then won six of seven games to close out the match after Murray had briefly rallied in the second.
Early chances
Both players had chances to edge ahead in the opening stages, with break points in each of the first four games.
However, Davydenko's consistency coupled with Murray's resilience ensured the set went with serve until the 11th game, when the world number five made the crucial breakthrough.
Murray took him to deuce in the 12th game, but Davydenko emerged unscathed and held to take the set.
After playing a watchful, defensive game in the first set Murray switched tactics and became more aggressive at the start of the second and his change of style brought immediate rewards.
The 20-year-old Scot broke to love in the second game and then held for a 3-0 lead, before Davydenko got to grips with his new approach.
The fifth seed broke back in the fifth game and then broke again in the seventh, before holding serve to make it five games in a row and establish a 5-3 lead.
Murray forced him to serve out the match, but he crumbled as Davydenko easily held serve to love to move into the semi-finals at this event for the first time.
