Andy Murray dumped out of Australian Open after first round defeat

15 January 2024 , 08:23

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Andy Murray has been knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open (Image: Getty Images)

Andy Murray's Australian Open hopes were ended in the first round as he suffered a straight sets defeat to Tomás Martín Etcheverry.

The Brit has enjoyed himself in Melbourne previously, reaching the final on five occasions, but was well beaten by the Argentine. Etcheverry, the 30th seed, cruised into a two-set lead in well under two hours before Murray attempted to mount another epic comeback.

No one in the sport's history has recovered from two sets down to win more times than Murray, but the three-time Grand Slam champion was unable to stage another, eventually falling to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-2 defeat.

Etcheverry said: "It was an incredible match for me. It's very tough to play with a legend like Murray. He's one of my idols. We play two times last year and there were long battles like this. Today I played incredible and I hope I can continue this level in the next match.

The Scot waved goodbye to Melbourne for another year

The Scot was broken five times and made 35 unforced errors en route to his early exit as he failed to recreate the magic that saw him No.14 seed Matteo Berrettini in five sets in the first round last year.

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Etcheverry broke in the very first game but broke back in a nine-minute second game. Murray had a chance to break and lead 4-2 but failed to converted and was broken on the seventh game after a forehand error. The Argentine took the first set with an ace after an hour.

At 1-1 in the second set, Murray was forced to save three break points, producing some stunning shots to hold off his opponent, before he gave up his serve with another forehand error. He was broken again to trail 5-2, which allowed Etcheverry, who had not won a match this season, to take a two set lead with several aces.

There was a feeling of inevitability when Murray was broken in the third set and, although he saved his first match point, he then hammered a forehand into the net which concluded his tournament after two hours and 23 minutes.

The three-time Grand Slam winner has now not reached the quarter-final of a Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2017 with his hopes of breaking into the top 32 by no means aided by this exit in Melbourne as his hip appeared to be an issue once again.

Samuel Meade