Andy Murray crashes out of Australian Open despite another full-hearted performance
ATP
Andy Murray wasn't able to continue his 2023 Australian Open run after he was stopped by Roberto Bautista Agut.
In the third round of the Melbourne Slam, the British player took on Roberto Bautista Agut, who is no stranger to long matches. That meant the former ATP World No. 1 had to be ready for another marathon after playing two in the opening two rounds.
First, Murray battled in five sets against Matteo Berrettini, and in the second round, he had to play five sets again. After being down 0-2, the British player ultimately beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets.
However, in the third round the 24th-seeded Spaniard proved to be too strong for the exhausted Brit, and his journey in Melbourne ended sooner than he wanted.
The first set was a fast one. Bautista Agut created plenty of break point chances, while Murray couldn't find his rhythm and lost the opening set of the match 1-6 after he lost 14 out of the first 15 points.
The Spaniard led early in the second set as well. He was up 4-2 and had a break point to lead 5-2. But that's when Murray's fighting spirit kicked in. He broke back and forced a tie-break, which he ultimately won 9-7 despite being down 4-6 and facing two set points.
It seemed that the third set at the Margaret Court Arena would have to be decided in a tie-break, as there were no break points seen in the first seven games. But when leading 4-3, Bautista Agut broke his opponent's serve and eventually won the third set 6-3.
Murray had a perfect start in the fourth set. He was up 2-0, and it seemed that he might be able to force a decider. However, this time, he ran out of gas and Bautista Agut won the match in three hours and 32 minutes, 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-3, 6-4.
