Ancic, the fifth seed, took control early in the match, breaking Murray's serve in the sixth game of the opening set and rallying after the Scot took the lead in the second. Murray, ahead 5-4 at one point, wasted two chances to force a third set.

"I had a lot of chances. In the first set I had break point on his first service game and was 30-0 up on one of his other service games," Murray said. "I just didn't take my chances. I didn't serve as well as I had to against him because he has obviously got a great serve and it is difficult to break him."

Tommy Haas, the German, caused an upset at the Kooyong Classic, beating Roger Federer, the world No 1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. The Swiss appeared to struggle with his timing, hitting forehands long or wide, while Haas scrambled for every point, producing a succession of spectacular passing shots.

"I didn't think I played that badly," Federer said. "I think [in] my last couple of years my first round at Kooyong has always been a struggle. It's not a setback."