Olympic Games and US Open champion Andy Murray saw his Mubadala World Tennis Championship campaign last just 84 minutes on Thursday when he slumped to a 6-3, 6-4 defeat to Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic.
Tipsarevic, the world number nine, will now face Spain’s Nicolas Almagro, who replaced Rafael Nadal in the three-day exhibition tournament, in Friday’s semi-finals.
“I am happy with my game. I know it is an exhibition game but to play a Grand Slam champion and an Olympic Games gold medal winner and win, I am just delighted,” said Tipsarevic.
“I hope to get two more victories and that would be great going into the Australian Open.”
David Ferrer also reached the semi-finals with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic.
Ferrer will tackle world number one Novak Djokovic on Friday for a place in Saturday’s final.
Tipsarevic cruises past Murray in Abu Dhabi
