An out-of-sorts Andy Murray lost in straight sets to Croatian teenager Borna Coric to crash out of the Free Tennis Championships yesterday.

Murray thrashed Coric in a Davis Cup singles tie in September 2013 in their only other previous meeting but was second best throughout yesterday’s quarter-final encounter as the 18-year-old Coric won 6-1 6-3 in one hour and 19 minutes.

Afterwards Murray praised world number 84 Coric’s performance, admitting that his slow start to the match had ultimately cost him.

“He didn’t make many errors,” Murray said. “He played very solid and he moved well.

“I made way too many mistakes from the beginning of the match right through to the end, early in rallies, rushing points.”

Coric briefly wobbled when he was at 2-1 in the second set.

“I lost my focus I think somewhere in the second set on 2-1,” Coric said. “Actually, I started to realise that I can win this match, so I started a little bit (to) overthink.

“But after two games I think I got back at my focus.”

Coric will now face Roger Federer who advanced when Richard Gasquet retired from their quarter-final match.