MURRAY LOSES ON HIS RETURN

ANDY MURRAY was beaten but now bowed on his singles comeback at the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati last night.

The former world No1, below, had his moments against Frenchman Richard Gasquet yet was outdone by a series of fine drop-shots as he lost 6-4, 6-4.

This was his first singles match since the Australian Open in January, when he feared his career was finished. But he has battled back following a hip operation, winning the men’s doubles with Feliciano Lopez at Queen’s in the summer.

It was a testing return to the singles as Murray’s service was broken in the opening game and he quickly found himself within a point of a 3-0 deficit.

Warming to his task, Murray fought back to lead 3-2 before Gasquet, employing a series of drop-shots as he moved the Briton around the court, turned the screw to take the first set. The second set started in much the same way as the first, as Gasquet, who missed the first four months of the season with a groin injury, broke in the opening game and then backed it up to lead 2-0.

But Murray showed a deft touch to hold serve with a half-volleyed lob and then produced a string of winners to push his opponent hard before he made it 3-1 with an ace.

The Scot once again showed his mettle, putting pressure on the Gasquet serve and holding his next two to make it 4-3, with his game improving all the time.

Both men held to allow the Frenchman to serve for the match at 5-4, and he needed no second invitation to seal a straight-sets victory.

Murray was still smiling at the finish. Whatever the outcome here, it was an important staging point if he is to make a full-time singles comeback.