By Daily Sports on January 15, 2019

Andy Murray’s hopes of a fairytale swansong at the Australian Open were crushed in the first round on Monday as Roberto Bautista Agut held off a thrilling fightback from the ailing Briton to claim a 6-4 6-4 6-7(5) 6-7(4) 6-2 epic. Though locked in a losing battle with his troublesome right hip, the former world number one whipped the Melbourne Arena crowd into a frenzy as he battled back from two sets down to push the match into a fifth.

It seemed the momentum was all Murray’s but it was all a mirage as Bautista Agut rallied to break the Scot twice and roar to a 5-1 lead in the decider.

Murray raised his racquet to salute the crowd before his final service game but his fans could not prevent Bautista Agut serving out the match to love and ending the Scot’s brave resistance after four hours and nine minutes.

On Friday, a teary-eyed Murray said the Australian Open could be his last tournament as a professional but the battle-scarred 31-year-old left the door ajar for a return.

“Maybe I’ll see you again, I’ll do everything possible to try,” the three-times Grand Slam champion said in his on-court interview. (Reuters)

•Photo shows Andy Murray 

Source Daily Sports

Posted January 15, 2019

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