World number one Andy Murray started his new season Friday with a surprise defeat to Belgian David Goffin in the semi-finals of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.
Murray, who had not conceded a set in his previous five encounters against the Belgian, was beaten 6-7 (4-7) 4-6.
After losing the opening set at the exhibition tournament, Murray recovered to go 3-2 up in the second set.
But the world number 11 broke back and piled the pressure on the Briton.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Goffin will face either Milos Raonic or Rafael Nadal in Saturday’s final, with Murray up against the loser of the semi-final.
NAN recalls that Murray lost just nine matches in his entire 2016 season.
His focus now turns to the Qatar Open in Doha in the first week of 2017 as he builds towards his push for an elusive first Australian Open title next month.
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