After the recent setbacks, Olympic tennis champion Alexander Zverev experienced the next disappointment.
In his opening game at the ATP tournament in Doha, the Hamburger lost to the Scottish star Andy Murray 6: 7 (5: 7) 6: 2, 5: 7 and missed the quarter-finals.
The close duel between number four on the seed list and three-time Grand Slam winner Murray lasted more than three hours.
Zverev was last eliminated in Rotterdam in the round of 16. The former world number two, who is still looking for top form after his severe ankle injury last June, had previously missed qualifying for the group stage with the German Davis Cup team.
In Doha, the world number 16 fended off three set balls in the first round, and Murray used the fourth. After the quick equalizer, Zverev conceded the decisive break in the decisive set at 5: 6. Murray used his second match point.