Murray knocked out of Cincinnati Masters as heat takes toll during quarterfinal tie

OHIO - British tennis ace Andy Murray found American Mardy Fish and the Ohio conditions too hot to handle as he was knocked out of the Cincinnati Masters on Friday.

Murray crashed out of the tournament after being defeated by Fish in an energy-sapping quarterfinal 6-7(9-7) 6-1 7-6(7-5) in two hours 56 minutes.

The defeat ends Murray’s seven-match unbeaten run, which includes his success at the ATP Rogers Cup in Toronto last week.

The 23-year-old was disappointed that tournament organizers had given him three consecutive starts in the midday heat.

Murray has played eight matches in 10 days, all between noon and 3pm, where on-court temperatures were over 38C.

“If you ask for a late match and you’re put on first, that’s not…that’s pretty,” The BBC quoted Murray, as saying.

“I don’t ever request really when to play. I don’t make many demands at all during the tournaments,” he added.

He also said that his request was rejected because organizers said opponent Fish was playing doubles later in the day.

“I’m not sure, the way the tennis works, I don’t think matches should be scheduled around the doubles because it’s the singles that’s on the TV,” he added.

World No. 36 Fish will now face Andy Roddick in the semi-finals. (ANI)