Andy Murray suffers straight-sets defeat by teenager Borna Coric in Dubai quarter-finals

Andy Murray continued his uncertain form since reaching the Australian Open after suffering a straight-set defeat at the hands of 18-year-old Croatian Borna Coric in the Dubai Duty Free Championships quarter-finals.

Murray, ranked three in the world, was beaten 6-1 6-3 in just 79 minutes marking his second quarter-final exit in as many tournaments after crashing out in Rotterdam a fortnight ago.

Coric, ranked 84 in the world, adds Murray to a list of conquests that already includes Rafael Nadal, who he defeated last year in Basel. Coric will now face either Richard Gasquet or Roger Federer for a place in the final.

World number one Novak Djokovic now faces qualifier Marsel Ilhan and Tomas Berdych will take on Sergiy Stakhovsky in the quarter-finals.

This results mark yet another shock defeat for Murray since losing to Djokovic in the Australian Open final on 1 February and losing to Frenchman Gilles Simon on 13 February.

Murray played over 50 unforced errors in his match against Coric, suggesting that improvement is needed ahead of Great Britain's Davis Cup tie against the United States next month.