Andy Murray has crashed out of the Australian Open within the third spherical.
The British participant misplaced in 4 units 6-1 6-7 (7) 6-3 6-4 to Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut.
Murray received simply one of many first 15 factors earlier than getting on the board within the fourth sport, and his competitor wrapped up the opening set in solely 29 minutes.
The defeat got here after Murray’s marathon second spherical match in opposition to Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis – which lasted 5 hours and 45 minutes, ending at 4am.
Coupled with a close to five-hour first-round win over Matteo Berrettini, the Scot had spent 10 hours and 34 minutes on court docket simply making it via to the final 32.
To start with it appeared he would supply little resistance in opposition to Bautista Agut however after one other three hours and 29 minutes of enjoying time, his battle was misplaced.
Murray was seen limping off the court docket as he made his approach again to the altering rooms after the sport.
This was the primary time at a grand slam because the French Open in 2017 that Murray has been the final British singles participant standing.
The contest additionally got here 4 years after he revealed the extent of his hip ache and that he was contemplating retiring forward of a first-round conflict with Bautista Agut.
Speaking after his victory, the Spaniard mentioned: “Always playing Andy in a grand slam is very tough. He knows the game very well and knows how to play a grand slam match.
“I’m very pleased with how I managed all of the nerves and all the stress throughout all of the match. I performed superb tennis and I’m very completely happy I obtained the win.”
Coupled with a loss for Dan Evans to Andrey Rublev earlier, that’s now the top of the British problem in singles for one more yr at Melbourne Park.
Source: information.sky.com”
