Andy Murray has never played well at Indian Wells. The BNP Paribas Open has given him fits over the past few seasons and it seems this year is no different for the world No. 2. Murray entered the tournament after a positive showing at the Australian Open, however he fell early once again, losing 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (3) to Federico Delbonis, ending Murray's time in Southern California.
Murray blew a 4-1 lead in the third set to suffer the shocking defeat. This is the fourth time Murray has failed to reach the quarterfinals at Indian Wells. He was quick to say the conditions of the tournament are not easy for him to handle considering the tournament is held in the desert - a condition Delbonis could be seen as more comfortable in. Murray allowed the 53rd-ranked Australian to reel off five straight points in the third set, and told the media he just never felt comfortable.
"I have never really felt that I played my best tennis here," Murray said. "I still feel like I can't really go for my shots. I feel like when I do, I make mistakes long. I have tried many different things. I don't know exactly why it is."
Murray is not disappointed in his early exit from the tournament. He played well at the Australian Open and had a good showing at the Davis Cup, leaving him confident for the next round of grand slam tournaments over the summer. Indian Wells is supposed to be a nice tune up before heading into the French Open, but Murray told the media that he is going to go home and see his wife and baby and focus on relaxing before playing again.
"I will see Kim [Sears, his wife] and the baby in a couple of days, which, yes, will be nice," Murray said. "So it will be nice to get to Miami and see my family. I'm not necessarily concerned about how I'm playing. I do think I will play better tennis in Miami because I played some good stuff in the Davis Cup."
The BNP Paribas Open has been a challenge for many of the top tennis players in the world this year. High winds have made for poor playing conditions. On Sunday, Serena Williams, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic all faced challenges from opponents. Williams had to take her match to three sets while Nadal and Djokovic were left battling back at times.
Murray will have plenty of time to bounce back. The French Open is set to begin in May before Wimbledon and then the Olympics take place this summer.
