[ad_1]
Andy Murray’s epic Australian Open run ended with a third-round defeat at the hands of Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut on Saturday.
The Scot returned to heroics last night against Thanasi Kokkinakis, having done his best to recover from a five hour and 45 minute marathon in which he came back from two sets down to claim victory at 4.05am local time. .
Coupled with a nearly five-hour first-round victory over Matteo Berrettini, Murray had spent 10 hours and 34 minutes on court only to reach the final 32 minutes.
At first he would offer little resistance but he looked to be in the match and should have taken the second set before Spaniard Bautista Agut claimed victory 6-1 6-7 (7-9) 6-3 6-4 after three hours. and 29 minutes.
The contest also comes four years after Murray tearfully revealed that he was suffering from hip pain and that he was considering retiring before his first-round clash with Bautista Agut in Melbourne.
The 35-year-old Scot won just one of the first 15 points before going on the board in the fourth game and Bautista Agut wrapped up the opening set in just 29 minutes.
Murray also had a quick break in the second, but he continued to work hard and, as the crowd with plenty of Scottish salt expected, went forward.
Unexpectedly, Bautista Agut returned the break to make it 4-4, and Murray struggled to stay on terms, saving a break point in the 11th game with a brilliant backhand.
Bautista Agut leads 5-2 and 6-4 in the tie-break but Murray will not let go again, back on level terms and then forcing two set points, which takes the second.
Murray stood statuesque, soaking up the adulation of fans who now fully believed they could witness something very special.
But Bautista Agut successfully extinguished the disturbance in the third set, finally breaking through to lead 5-3, and an early break for Murray in the fourth proved a false dawn.
Related to loss for And Evans for Andrey Rublev earlier, who is now the end of the British challenge in singles for another year at Melbourne Park.
Dan Evans was beaten by fifth seed Andrey Rublev
Evans was defeated by the fifth seed Andrei Rublev in a complete straight-set defeat.
Evans has lived up to 25. seeding by reaching the third round and entering the match as an underdog, but has reason to believe that he can cause an upset having won three of the six previous clashes with Rublev.
However, Russia crunched 60 winners compared to only 22 unforced errors in a quality display to win 6-4 6-2 6-3.
Evans’ generosity gave Rublev a boost
Evans threw a banana to Rublev in a light moment during the match
After the first nine games went with the serve, Rublev asked the ball boy for some bananas to give him an energy boost.
Listening, Evans threw one banana at his opponent, who immediately broke serve in the next game to take the opening set and never looked back.
“He actually asked for four bananas, and I really liked it, so I shared it with him,” Evans said. “They only brought two, so I donated (one) so they could have it.”
Rublev smiled when asked about the post-match interview, saying: “He helped me with energy for sure. I won two extra games because I ate a banana.”
This is the seventh meeting between Evans and Rublev, who have shared six close matches before this first Grand Slam match.
“It’s just a beautiful and happy moment between us,” added Rublev. “We have a good relationship with each other. We play good matches.
“I’ve played quite a lot, and they won some matches and I won some matches. But now I won the last one. Next time they have to get revenge.”
Long trip to Bogota for Evans
England No 2 faces a long trip from Melbourne to Bogota
Evans must now make the long journey from Melbourne to Bogota for England’s Davis Cup play-off against Colombia in two weeks’ time.
He will join Cameron Norrie and Jack Draper in the team, with the participation of Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury potentially dependent on going forward in the doubles at Melbourne Park.
Although England have the taller players by far, the conditions will favor the home team, with the tie being played on clay and with a ball with less pressure to counteract the effects of altitude.
Evans expects it to be very difficult, saying: “I’ve played high in Guadalajara, and I’m rubbish. Then I ask people, ‘Are they the same?’ And they were like, ‘No, it’s almost nothing compared to (Bogota)’. So, I mean, God knows. It’s an experience, I guess.
“I think it’s important that the best players go out and represent your country. You never know how long you’ve got. I might not be in the team next year. We’ve got some good players coming up.”
[ad_2]
Source link