In the wake of his first two memorable laps, Andy Murray did not have the resources to do it again in front of Roberto Bautista Agut. The Scot was defeated in four sets by the Spaniard, who will face Tommy Paul in the round of 16.
Andy Murray’s crazy adventure in Melbourne comes to an end. Having emerged victorious from dantesque fights against Matteo Berrettini (3-2) and Thanasi Kokkinakis (3-2) during the first two rounds with almost eleven hours of play, the Scotsman could not achieve a new feat. He gave up this Saturday morning in the third round against Roberto Bautista Agut (6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4) after a third round of three and a half hours. Five-time Australian Open finalist, Murray paid the high price for his missed start to the match. A boon for the Spanish player who won the inaugural round in less than half an hour. From then on, the former world number 1 played better and posed more problems for his opponent, despite losing his serve early in the second set. He ran after the score and managed to unbreak Roberto Bautista Agut at 3-4 to take him to the tie-break. In this one, Murray was very badly embarked. Led 2-5, he courageously saved two set points and overthrew the 25th in the world, to win this decisive game (9-7) and pick up a set everywhere.
Fourth round bound! @BautistaAgut 🇪🇸 sees off Andy Murray 🇬🇧 6-1 6-7(7) 6-3 6-4@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/4lEOFjEQiW
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 21, 2023
Murray’s courage was not enough
The public began to believe in a new comeback from the Briton and carried him as he is used to doing with his Australian players. However, this was not enough. The hero of the start of the week remained valiant in the engagement but Roberto Bautista Agut put a little more on the court to make the difference. He gave him a painful break at the end of the third set before confirming the service by winning it. Bis repeated in the fourth act, which he had nevertheless started with the loss of his face-off before erasing this delay in stride. For the fifth time in his career, “RBA” climbed to the round of 16 of the Australian Open. He will find there the American Tommy Paul, who had no trouble dismissing his compatriot Jenson Brooksby (6-1, 6-4, 6-3) early in the morning.