Andy Murray went down to defeat after missing on three match points, with the Scot sent packing 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (6) on Thursday at the ATP 500 event in Beijing.
The first-round loss over nearly three hours to Alex de Minaur leaves the 37-year-old with a 1-2 record since travelling to Asia and winning a round last week in Zhuhai.
Murray was the only previous champion (2016) in the field as the ATP returns to China for the first time since the pandemic struck in 2020.
The three-time Grand Slam winner was playing her for the fifth time and had never lost prior to the quarter-finals.
After losing the opening set to the Australian who has now defeated him in all five of their career meetings – including twice previously this season in Monte Carlo and Queen’s..
Murray was unable to come good on two match points in the eighth game of the third set, blowing a 5-2 lead as well.
When De Minaur dragged it into a tiebreaker, Murray again had a winning chance after fighting back from a 5-2 deficit in the decider.
But he missed on a third winning chance leading 6-5 and went down to defeat as his opponent capitalised on his own first opportunity.
No. 12 De Minaur will play the winner from second seed Daniil Medvedev and Tommy Paul, with the Australian improving to 17-3 in first round matches this season.
