Andy Murray loses to Radek Stepanek in 3rd round of Paris Masters

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN , Associated Press

Last update: November 12, 2009 - 2:32 PM

PARIS - A tired Andy Murray lost to Radek Stepanek 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 Thursday in the third round of the Paris Masters.

The fourth-seeded Murray looked sluggish in the last two sets and couldn't overcome a lack of sleep following his three-set win over James Blake that ended at 1:45 a.m. local time Thursday.

"It's obviously limited recovery after a long match," the 22-year-old Murray said. "It's 4 a.m. by the time you get to bed. So it's not perfect preparation for a match. But you still come out and you try and give it your best shot. Wasn't good enough."

Murray, who won his sixth title of the season last week in Valencia, had never lost a set against Stepanek in their three previous meetings.

After dominating the first set, the Wimbledon semifinalist was broken early in the second and never recovered. Stepanek will face either Fernando Gonzalez or Juan Martin Del Potro.

Murray returned to competition last week in Valencia after being sidelined by a left wrist injury since the U.S. Open in September.

He said his overall fitness was good.

"I played seven matches in the space of eight or nine days, and that was exactly what I needed at this stage of the season after having a break," he said.

Murray is one of seven players who have already qualified for season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London later this month. Nikolay Davydenko of Russia booked his place despite losing to Robin Soderling.

Defending champion Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-3 to reach the Paris Masters quarterfinals, another step in his bid to qualify for season-ending championship.

Tsonga, who won three titles this season, never faced a break point and broke his opponent's serve three times.

Tsonga will face either second-seeded Rafael Nadal or 14th-seeded Tommy Robredo.

Simon, who injured his right knee in a match against Ivan Ljubicic in the previous round, struggled to return Tsonga's powerful serves.

Tsonga will earn a place for the season-ending tournament if he defends his title without facing Fernando Verdasco in the final.

Soderling also has slim hopes of qualifying for the prestigious event following his 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 over Davydenko. Soderling needs to at least reach the final to have a chance of qualifying.

Davydenko secured his place in the season-ending championship after Fernando Verdasco lost to Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Soderling's next opponent will be third-seeded Novak Djokovic, who defeated French qualifier Arnaud Clement 6-2, 6-2.

Djokovic, coming off a win over top-ranked Roger Federer in the Swiss Indoors final last week, reached the quarterfinals for the first time after winning 80 percent of his first-serve points.

"I want to do well here," Djokovic said. "I know it's a very important tournament, and I just hope to maintain the high level of performance I had in the last two months."

Julien Benneteau, who upset top-ranked Roger Federer in the previous round, lost 6-4, 6-3 to 15th-seeded Gael Monfils, who will play Cilic in the quarterfinals.

Nadal will face Robredo later Thursday.

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