Murray tastes Doha disappointment

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Qatar Open final result:

A MURRAY (GB) v I Ljubicic (Cro) 4-6 4-6

GAME-BY-GAME UPDATES:

By Sarah Holt

Second set:

Murray 4-6 Ljubicic: Things are looking ominous for Murray again as he slide sto 0-30 as Ljubicic cranks up the pressure. The Croat goes wide on a service return to let the Scot back in at 15-30 but Murray sloppily sends a forehand wide to hand Ljubicic two match points.

A sliced smash sees Murray save one and the Scot finds a good pass as Ljubicic hurried into the net. A diagonal forehand takes Murray to advantage but Ljubicic digs out a huge forehand for deuce.

Murray nets the ball after some solid forehands from the Croat but saves deuce with a powerful first serve. Murray comes in to the net but Ljubicic takes advantage with a passing shot of his own for a fourth match point. Another error from Murray sees him fail to return the ball and he hands Ljubicic the match.

Murray 4-5 Ljubicic: Murray slides to his knees as Ljubicic passes him to take the first point. Murray blinks and breathes heavily as a stern-looking Ljubicic moves to 40-0 and holds to 15.

Murray 4-4 Ljubicic: Murray survives another lengthy rally and lashes down a fierce forehand for 30-15. The Scot produces an angled backhand for 40-15 but Ljubicic delivers his own pounding shot to sneak another point. A brilliant rally ends in Ljubicic's favour as his low forehand swings in for deuce.

Murray takes a point at the net for advantage but slides back to deuce. A clipped serve hands the Scot another advantage and this time he holds, after a game which brought out the best in both players.

Murray 3-4 Ljubicic: Murray drives a low forehand over the net for 0-15 but sends his return long to level at 15-15. Ljubicic goes wide to give Murray a sniff of a break but the Scot loses patience in a 24-stroke rally and hits long for 30-30. An ace and another unstoppable serves sees the Croat hold.

Murray 3-3 Ljubicic: Ljubicic tries to find an immediate response as he moves to 0-30 with a deadly passing shot. Murray's coach Brad Gilbert shakes his head as his protege attempts a glided drop shot and fails, handing Ljubicic three break points.

A chip and charge saves one for Murray but the Scot goes long at 30-40 to hand the Croat the break straight back.

Murray 3-2 Ljubicic: A long first point is won by Ljubicic as he forces Murray to mis-cue his forehand but the second seed goes long himself to hand the Scot a point. Murray scurries around the court again but fails to get the ball over the net for 30-15.

The Croat is forced to stretch wide by Murray and puts the ball into the tramlines for 30-30 and does likewise on the opposite side of the court to hand the Scot a break point.

A lucky return from Murray forces Ljubicic into another mistake as he again goes wide to hand Murray a crucial break.

Murray 2-2 Ljubicic: Murray needed another good service game if he is to keep pace with Ljubicic and he drops just a single point, with a forehand that looped wide, on his way to holding.

Murray 1-2 Ljubicic: Some great recovery from Ljubicic as he unleashes a flying volley at the net for 30-0. There is more frustration for Murray as Ljubicic hits his groove and also holds to love.

Murray 1-1 Ljubicic: Some good serving gets Murray back on track as he holds to love for the first time in the match.

Murray 0-1 Ljubicic: It goes without saying that Ljubicic has the upperhand going into the second set and Murray adjusts his cap and mutters to himself as he struggles to find a way past the Croat, who holds to 15.

First set:

Murray 4-6 Ljubicic: A big forehand from Ljubicic earns him a point for 15-15 as Murray serves to stay in the set. The second seed goes long for 30-15 but Murray, watched by sweet-sucking coach Brad Gilbert, skips a forehand wide for 30-30.

Ljubicic takes his second break point of the match as he clips the ball over the net as Murray stands by watching and the second seed steals the opener as Murray goes long.

Murray 4-5 Ljubicic: Murray flings his racquet, adjusts his cap and wipes his face with a towel as he struggles to break down Ljubicic, try as he might. More of those infectious "Lubo" chants then as the second seed holds.

Murray 4-4 Ljubicic: More coughing and spluttering from Murray but he moves to 30-0. Ljubicic flings a fiery backhand at the Scot to take a point but Murray moves into the net for 40-15 and holds as the Croat sways his backhand long.

Murray 3-4 Ljubicic: The first double fault of the match from the Croatian second seed lets Murray in at 30-30. The Scot is made to do some vigourous defending again before luring Ljubicic into the net and then passing him with a forehand for another break chance.

Ljubicic serves up two aces to take advantage but rather rashlessly scoops the ball wide to go back to deuce. Murray makes a nasty hacking noise but he doesn't seem too under the weather as he grabs a third deuce.

The Croat continues to make silly errors as he hands Murray a second break point but Ljubicic saves again with a shot right on the line. The Scot vents his frustation again as Ljubicic takes advantage and holds with an ace.

Murray 3-3 Ljubicic: Murray skims the ball wide for 15-30 but he serves up his first ace for 40-30 and Ljubicic tamely nets the ball to keep the match level.

Murray 2-3 Ljubicic: Murray bounces his racquet to the floor as Ljubicic glides to 30-0 and the Scot pumps his return long to see the second seed hold.

Murray 2-2 Ljubicic: A sweeping backhand from Ljubicic takes him to 15-15 before Murray scampers in to the net for 30-15. The Croat is returning Murray's serve much better now and shouts of "Lubo" ring out as he forces 30-40.

The second seed looks down at his racquet as he dumps the ball into the net for deuce and cannot return a big serve from the Scot to hand him advantage. After a fierce rally, Ljubicic goes long to see Murray hold.

Murray 1-2 Ljubicic: Both players must be keen to get back to their chairs as Ljubicic quickly moves to 40-0 with a drop-shot. He nets the ball to gift the Scot a point and Murray does likewise to see the second seed hold.

Murray 1-1 Ljubicic: Murray sends Ljubicic chasing around the court with some floated shots at the net for 40-0. The Croat nicks the line and a point with a forehand but then goes long to see Murray hold with much less fuss.

Murray 0-1 Ljubicic: Ljubicic gets the match under way and misses an easy volley at the net to hand Murray the first point. Some more good retrieving from Murray forces the Croat to go long and hand the Briton three break points.

The crowd begin to chant "Lubo" as the world number five saves two of them and Murray fluffs a simple smash to take the game to deuce. Murray saves a second deuce with a fizzing diagonal shot and gets advantage as the Croat nets the ball.

If this game is setting the tone of the match we could be in settling in for the afternoon as Ljubicic saves a fifth break point. Back to deuce again, and then Ljubicic rescues a sixth break chance.

The Croat finally takes the first game with almost 15 minutes on the clock.

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Build-up:

British number one Andy Murray has got 2007 off to a flying start by reaching his fourth career final at the Qatar Open in Doha.

The 19-year-old fourth seed faces world number five Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in the final.

Murray has been struggling with a cold in Qatar but is feeling confident after beating world number three Nikolay Davydenko in the last four.

Murray and Ljubicic's head-to-head record is matched at 1-1, with Murray having the advantage on hardcourts.

The Scot beat Lleyton Hewitt to claim his first ATP Tour title in San Jose last season when he also reached the final of the Washington International, losing to Arnaud Clement.

Murray advanced to his maiden final in 2005 at the Thailand Open where he was vanquished by Roger Federer.

The players are warming up under the floodlights of Qatar, where the temperature is slightly warmer than semi-final day, up to 20c. The crowds are still very thin though for a final.