Andy Murray’s comeback from a three-month injury-enforced lay-off began with a disappointing straight sets loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the first day of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships (MWTC).
Murray had not played a match of any sort since undergoing surgery for a long-standing back complaint and though he looked mobile, he was, understandably, lacking on-court sharpness. He hung with Tsonga for much of the first set, until as late as the 12th game.
Tsonga worked his way to a first break - and set - point and clinched it with a clever backhand lob.
The second set began promisingly, Murray capitalising on a couple of backhand errors from Tsonga to break in the very first game. He began to move around the court well in the following game and it seemed, fleetingly, as if Murray might prolong the match.
But a couple of errors let Tsonga back in to the game and as Murray drove a forehand volley into the net, he was broken straight back.
Tsonga grew in confidence, broke Murray to love in his next game and took over the set. Soon after he was serving for the set and though two double faults gave Murray a glimmer, Tsonga finished it with a service winner, wrapping up a comfortable 7-5, 6-3 win.