Andy Murray's first match since undergoing back surgery has ended in a straight-sets defeat at the hands of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
The British number one, who had been out of action since going under the knife in September, was beaten 7-5 6-3 by Tsonga in the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking after the match, Murray told BBC Sport: "The courts here are very fast and you have to react quickly.
"It's always good fun here. It's great preparation for the season as you have to play against the best in the world."
Murray will now face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka in the fifth-place playoff on Friday.