Andy Murray run at Stockholm Open comes to an end.
Andy Murray run at Stockholm Open comes to an end after he went down three sets to American Tommy Paul.
The former world No 1 battled back to send the contest into a third set, but he was eventually beaten 1-6 6-3 3-6 in two hours and 15 minutes.
The 34-year-old produced arguably his best win since hip surgery to defeat top seed Jannik Sinner on Wednesday and he was looking to back it up against the American.
Paul, who ousted Leo Borg, son of legendary Bjorn, before beating his good friend Taylor Fritz to reach the last eight, continued his outstanding form by breaking Murray’s serve three times to claim the opening set.
He was unable to sustain his incredibly high level, however, with his first serve percentage plummeting, while Murray upped his intensity to bounce back in style.
Neither player could be separated until the eighth game of the deciding set when Murray double-faulted – his first of the match – at the most crucial time to hand Paul the chance to serve it out which the world No 52 duly obliged.