DUBAI (Reuters) - Andy Murray's February torment deepened on Thursday after he lost 6-1 6-3 to 18-year-old Croatian Borna Coric in the quarter-finals of the Dubai Championships.

This month, the world No. 3 lost the Australian Open final against Novak Djokovic and then failed to live up to his top-seed billing in Rotterdam as he fell in the quarter-finals.

Murray arrived in Dubai temporarily shorn of his coach Amelie Mauresmo and then struggled to find practice partners.

The lack of preparation may have led to his downfall on Thursday.

"I made way too many mistakes from the beginning of the match right through to the end; early in rallies, (I was) rushing points," he said.

"(It was) quite similar to the match I played against (Gilles) Simon in Rotterdam, which is disappointing."