Andy Murray surprised by display in Dusan Lajovic loss in Miami, not ‘predicting’ Carlos Alcaraz to win 20 Grand Slams

Murray went into the match on the back of making the last 32 at Indian Wells and with the carrot of a potential third-round clash with world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.

But the two-time Miami champion didn’t produce the same level that he has shown for most of the last month and was beaten in straight sets.

“I served pretty well, but the rest of the game was a bit of a problem today,” reflected Murray.

“Didn’t really return that well, made a number of errors that obviously I wouldn’t expect to be making.

“I didn’t really feel like I moved particularly well, which is really important for me, something I’ve been doing very well actually in most of the matches this year. So that was probably the thing.

“Some days you obviously don’t hit the ball your best, but my movement wasn’t great today.”

Murray also said he struggled with a change in conditions from Indian Wells.

“I’d been practising pretty well. It’s a very different court here, very bouncy, much faster than last week. Very different to the practice courts and everything.

“The ball was bouncing up a bit higher and I just mistimed quite a few balls. Sometimes on the slice it was shooting through a little bit more, kind of shanked a couple shots off the slice, as well…I wasn’t expecting to play like that, even based on the last few days because I’ve been decent in practice.”

Murray will soon head to Spain to begin training for the clay season.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, will not be face the former world No. 1 as he bids to defend his title in Miami.

Murray praised Alcaraz’s potential but also warned against putting too much expectation on him at the age of 19.

“He has an excellent, all-around game that I think will translate well on to all surfaces,” said Murray.

“He’s so far in his young career doing better than most of the guys that have come (through in) the last eight to 10 years. I know a lot of people are expecting everyone to win 20-plus Grand Slams now, like that’s normal. I wouldn’t predict that for anyone.

“I would imagine he would be right at the top of the game for as long as he wants to play.”

Alcaraz will face Facundo Bagnis in his opening match in Miami.

It is not known when Murray will return to action.

He has previously said that he intends to play the Madrid Open, Italian Open and the French Open over the European clay season.

If he sticks to that schedule he will have around a month off before the Madrid Open starts on April 26.

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