ANDY MURRAY failed in his bid to overcome world No3 Novak Djokovic in the Monte Carlo Masters this afternoon.
The Scot made a dreadful start and was eventually beaten 6-0, 6-4.
Murray failed to make an impression as his fellow 20-year-old powered through the first set and he was unable to retrieve the situation.
Djokovic dropped serve only once as Mur
ray briefly rallied in the second set but the Serb hit back for a convincing and deserved victory.
Third seed Djokovic dictated the pace from early on, continually forcing Murray deep behind the baseline and finding plenty of time to place his winners.
Murray's struggles became evident in his first service game, which lasted almost 15 minutes and went to several deuces before Djokovic prevailed on his third break point.
The Scot offered brief resistance when he forced Djokovic to save two break points in the fifth game, but otherwise the Serb was barely troubled as he swept the first set in 39 minutes.
Djokovic rattled off a seventh successive game at the start of the second set but then surprisingly lost momentum as Murray at last gained a foothold by holding and then breaking.
Yet it was not to last as Djokovic immediately broke back and then, after saving a couple of break points, held to nose himself ahead again.
Murray showed some resolve but Djokovic claimed the decisive break to take the match in the 10th game of the set.
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