Andy Murray out of Australian Open: Briton talks retirement after defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut

Reaction from the first-round match at the Australian Open in Melbourne

Emotional Andy Murray says Australian Open could be last tournament after struggling to recover from hip surgery

Andy Murray’s Australian Open is over after losing a thriller to Roberto Bautista Agut in what could be the final match of his career.

Murray is contemplating retirement due to the persistent hip injury that has blighted him for more than two years, with the three-time Grand Slam champion admitting last week that he will retire in 2019, hopefully after one last outing at Wimbledon in the summer.

But such is the pain that he is fighting, Murray could now choose to call it quits now that his Australian Open campaign has come to an end.

Please allow a moment for the blog to load.

What time does it start?

Murray vs Bautista Agut is due to begin not before 7am, and more likely to be around an 8am start once Kyle Edmund’s match against Tomas Berdych has completed.

Where can I watch it?

The match will be shown live on Eurosport.

Odds

Andy Murray to win: 4/1

Roberto Bautista Agut to win: 1/5

Key Points

• Andy Murray loses to Roberto Bautista Agut in thriller in Melbourne
• Murray falls to 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) 2-6 defeat
• Murray set to retire in 2019

[14 January 2019 08:06 · Jack de Menezes]

*Murray 2-1 Bautista AgutEvery point that Murray wins is being loudly applauded by the fans, and two powerful serves are followed by an ace that gives Murray a comfortable 40-0 advantage.

You get the idea that if Murray is to have any chance of winning this match, his first serve will be hugely important, and that proves true when he holds-to-love. Good stuff from the three-time Slam champion.

[14 January 2019 08:10 · Jack de Menezes]

Murray 2-2 Bautista Agut*Murray is playing well behind the baseline, but continues to go for winners when they present themselves. Unfortunately this one is pushed long too, but if he can start to take these chances he can get himself into position to challenge the Bautista Agut serve.

The second point is another lengthy rally that despite good movement from Murray, he can't get the racket round in time to fire the ball back over the net, and Bautista Agut emphatically hammers home a volley on the third point to move to 40-0.

Murray takes the next point when he forces the Spaniard into a lob shot that goes well long, but the same is replicated against him and Bautista Agut holds.

[14 January 2019 08:15 · Jack de Menezes]

*Murray 3-2 Bautista AgutMurray leaves a return short that cannons into the top of the net, and does exactly the same on the next point after a long rally that suggests the longer the points run, the harder it will become for Murray.

0-30 down, Murray needs to dig deep to save the game, and he makes a slog of the third point in the longest rally yet, but Bautista Agut misses the tramline and his challenge is unsuccessful. Murray follows up with forcing the error and Bob's your uncle, it's 30-30.

Murray makes the bold choice to leave a cross-court effort, and it's perfectly judged as the ball floats long, and when Bautista Agut returns into the net Murray punches the air after a strong save.

[14 January 2019 08:20 · Jack de Menezes]

Murray 3-3 Bautista Agut*Again, Murray hits into the net when defending from deep and his best chance to attack Bautista Agut's serve appears to be by coming in close. Bautista Agut hammers one long to let Murray in, before the Briton chips wide after being put under pressure.

40-15 down, Murray fires a double-handed backhand down the line to raucous applause, but after a monster rally Murray loops one long and Bautista Agut holds.

[14 January 2019 08:26 · Jack de Menezes]

*Murray 4-3 Bautista AgutBrilliant. Brilliant from both players as the longest rally of the match sees both men dig deep to keep the point alive. Bautista Agut again forces Murray wide, and when he is forced to defend with a high lob, the 22nd seed rushes in to smash home the winner. The crowd applaud both, but it was a lot of energy exerted from Murray for no return. The one positive is the fight is still there.

There's a spot of confusion with Murray 30-15 ahead as he stops playing a point, only for the linejudge to call it in. The umpire disagrees and overrules, but with no call made the point has to be replayed. Somewhat frustrated, Murray fires a beautiful ace, and another strong serve gives him the hold.

New balls are called for.

[14 January 2019 08:33 · Jack de Menezes]

Murray 4-4 Bautista Agut*Murray again punches the air after a perfectly-executed point in which he pushed his opponent wide before smashing the ball back the other side of the court. Bautista Agut takes exception to it and pushes Murray so wide he's nearly forced into the stands as he chases the lost cause.

Bautista Agut pushes a forehand long and Murray can sniff the chance of a break point, and when the Spaniard finds the net Murray roars "LET'S GO!"

Break point No 1 for Murray...but despite getting into the point he clips the very top of the net. Deuce.

Bautista Agut sends Murray the wrong way for advantage, and Murray goes super-aggressive to try and claw it back, only to fire his volley long and wide to hand Bautista Agut the game.

[14 January 2019 08:41 · Jack de Menezes]

*Murray 4-5 Bautista AgutThe lengthy rallies subside as Murray makes short work of two points to move ahead in the game, only for Bautista Agut to fight back and force an error from Murray before the Briton makes a hash of a return to make the score 30-30.

Murray then digs deep to try keep the point alive, but Bautista Agut is smart and puts his drop-shot where Murray just can't reach in time, giving himself his first break point.

Can Murray save it? NO! Murray fires another into the net and Bautista Agut has the first breakthrough to serve for the set.

[14 January 2019 08:46 · Jack de Menezes]

Murray 4-6 Bautista Agut*Bautista Agut is flying now and it's his powerful forehand that is causing problems for Murray, forcing him back before cutting a lovely drop-shot that Murray doesn't even bother running for. He immediately goes to change his racket, but is that the first sign of his resilience starting to break?

Murray fires a brilliant forehand down the line yet somehow Bautista Agut gets to it and returns, and Murray can only loop one long before showing the first sign of frustration. 30-0 down, Murray challenges a long call, only for Hawkeye to fail! Eventually the replay comes after a lengthy wait and it's a long way out.

Bautista Agut looks to have wraped up the set with an ace, and although Murray challenges it with his sole remaining appeal, he knows it's all over for the first set. Hawkeye again fails...but the off-court review shows the serve was OUT! Murray survives for now...but the very next point he fires long and Bautista Agut takes the first set 6-4.

[14 January 2019 08:52 · Jack de Menezes]

*Murray 4-6, 1-0 Bautista AgutThe second set picks up where the first left off as Murray is pushed around the court by Bautista Agut before firing into the net. Murray fights back impressively to move to 30-15 and show the battle is not done yet, and a last-ditch lob that goes so high it nearly leaves the arena somehow finds the line, only for his follow-up return to find the net.

Murray clenches his fist as he hits a serve-and-backhand winner to move ahead again, and Bautista Agut fires the next point long to give him the game.

[14 January 2019 08:57 · Jack de Menezes]

Murray 4-6, 1-1 Bautista Agut*Every time Murray is forced into last-ditch defence, he can't summon the strength to get the ball back over the net. Saying that, when Bautista Agut goes for a winner, Murray fires it back with interest to go 15-30 up. Another winner is sent down the line and Murray has TWO break points! Can he convert them?

The first is a long return that goes begging, and the second chances is missed when Bautista Agut's forehand pushes Murray wide and he sends the return wide, before gesturing in frustration to himself. That brings up deuce.

Advantage Bautista Agut as Murray fires into the bottom of the net, but a lovely wide forehand himself forces his opponent to scramble and sets him up for a simple volley to pull the Spaniard back to deuce. Bautista Agut goes back ahead, and when Murray goes for it in chasing a wide one, his cross-court effort is no good.