“Lot of unforced errors in the third set, for sure,” Murray said. “But I obviously didn’t start the second set particularly well. After winning the first set you want to put pressure on your opponent.”
The Brit did the exact opposite for the majority of the second set. He fell behind 4-0 before eventually dropping the set 6-4. He collected himself in the beginning of the third set and went up 3-1. It looked as if Murray was finally back in control of the match, but he proceeded to lose five straight games and hand Dimitrov the contest.
“I just played better in the good moments, that’s it,” Dimitrov said. “I had quite a few opportunities and I used them. I was just a smart player throughout ... I think when I was 3-1 down in the third set, I really felt that I know I'm going to get another chance because I was returning well, playing very good in the key moments. I'm happy with all those things, to be honest, today."
Murray just recently became a new father, and he took some time off after reaching the Australian Open final. His first two matches back were Davis Cup wins against Japan, but since then he's exited early in Indian Wells and now Key Biscayne.
“I didn't really know what to expect, exactly,” Murray said. “Maybe [I] expected Indian Wells to be tricky coming off the Davis Cup, and a big change in conditions, but here I had a long time to prepare.
“I think Indian Wells may be understandable; here, not so much. Grigor is obviously a very good player, but I also had opportunities in this match. I was up a break in the third; same things in Indian Wells, as well.”
With Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka all out of the draw, this was a very good opportunity for Murray to vie for the title. But it seems as if his head is elsewhere. One woman in the crowd was also thinking about other things, or players, as she held up a sign that said, “Get well soon Rafa and RF.”
