Tennis-Wawrinka ends Murray's Miami dream

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

MIAMI, Mar 23 (Reuters) British number one Andy Murray fell to a 7-5 3-6 6-4 first-round defeat on his debut at the Nasdaq-100 tournament crashing out to Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.

Murray, whose career breakthrough was cemented last month by a first title in San Jose with wins over former world number ones Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt, also lost to Roger Federer's protege in their Davis Cup meeting last September in Geneva.

The 20-year-old Wawrinka claimed a 4-1 lead in the final set, and broke Murray for 5-4 before serving it out. The winner overcame 64 unforced errors and conversions on only six of 13 break points yesterday.

World number 58 Wawrinka plays Chilean Fernando Gonzalez in the next round.

Former Roland Garros winner Carlos Moya defeated Romanian Victor Hanescu 5-7 7-5 6-4.

The second Masters Series tournament of the season also marked the Tour debut of the Hawkeye line-calling system, implemented only on the showcase centre court at Crandon Park.

American Jamea Jackson became the first player to challenge a line call using the electronic technology during her 7-5 6-7 7-5 defeat of compatriot Ashley Harkleroad.

Jackson used one of her two challenges on the first point of the second set on a forehand called out. An official immediately studied a replay using the Hawkeye system and ruled that the call was correct.

The decision was flashed on the scoreboard for fans to see and play then continued. Jackson then lost a second challenge on the way to victory ''I loved it, I thought it was great,'' she said of the system. ''It takes a lot of pressure off.

''You don't get angry. You just play and don't worry about the line calls. I wanted to be the first (to use the system), that's what is was really all about.'' Also, three-time champion Venus Williams withdrew due to a lingering ligament sprain in her right elbow yesterday.

The former world number one, a three-time winner of the event, will be replaced in the draw by a lucky loser.

REUTERS PM KP0923

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