Andy Murray

Brave Andy Murray's Australian Open run ended at the hands of Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut at Melbourne Park as he was downed in a thrilling four-set ...

Murray's journey back to this level of competition has been arduous and improbable, and he received a warm standing ovation as he left the court following another monumental effort. [Andy Murray](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/andy-murray) threatened to defy the odds once more as he left everything on court in a gallant four set defeat to Roberto Bautista Agut at the [Australian Open](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/australian-open). Relentless Murray was testing the limits of human endurance as he returned to the scene of his near-six hour second round marathon that finished at 4:05am on Friday.

The Scot played for another three hours and 29 minutes in a 6-1 6-7 (7) 6-3 6-4 defeat.

If his place in history and standing among the greats was already secured at home, it was a sign of how his legend had grown further elsewhere. Murray was unable to attack the Bautista Agut service game and when the Spaniard won 17 points in a row on his serve, it seemed there was no way back. Bautista Agut saved the first but in the red-hot atmosphere of the Melbourne night put consecutive shots into the net. As he struggled to limp around the court, Bautista Agut played a sensible game in the circumstances and looked to probe the extent of Murray’s movement from the back of the court. He produced a lovely backhand down the line to get a look at 0-30, roared on by the crowd, and the Spaniard cracked with a double fault. Murray snarled at what he was unable to reach and howled at his box as a double fault saw Bautista Agut take an opening break. Murray went early break up in the fourth as Bautista Agut’s forehand creaked but the Spaniard eventually ground Murray down with patient hitting from the baseline and a couple of fine lobs. Bautista Agut, a resilient and committed player in his own right, tightened his game in the crucial moments in the third and fourth sets. Instead, he has returned to Melbourne Park and delivered matches that will rank among some of the greatest of his career, and while doing so with a metal hip. But as Bautista Agut responded to defeat Murray in four fiercely compelling sets, it proved to be his final act of resistance at this Australian Open. Murray had only slept for three hours after defeating Kokkinakis in the early hours of Friday morning in Melbourne. As his aching joints loosened, during the points if not in between them, Murray battled to win an 87-minute second set after coming from 6-4 down in the tiebreak to spark hope of another unbelievable recovery.

The Scot fell to a 6-1 6-7 (7) 6-3 6-4 defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.

Those sacrifices and that effort that I put in allowed me to get through those matches and play at a high level that I think was entertaining for the people watching. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with today. I think I did a great job.” It’s more enjoyable for me when I’m playing like that, when I’m coming into a major event and really believing that I can do some damage. But I’m also disappointed because I put loads of work into the beginning of this year and was playing well enough to have a really good run. “I think even tonight, I’m competing against a guy who is 20th in the world, and it’s still very tight considering the circumstances.

Over the past week at the Australian Open in Melbourne Sir Andy Murray has often seemed more like a medieval knight than a tennis player, undergoing the ...

But put out the fires he did and, playing some of the finest tennis he’s played in years, he almost took the match to five sets, before losing in four. As he chased down the Spaniard’s clinically placed shots, he emitted yelps of alarm, like a man who rushes into the kitchen to put out a fire, only to realise that the loft is ablaze. The Dunblane survivor who left home at 16 to play tennis in Barcelona has long found emotional release in a game he has been desperate to keep playing. But on Saturday he also appeared stiff and hobbled, like a man who’d been force-marched across the Sahara in the wrong-sized shoes. And no other tennis player has ever returned to the top flight after the hip resurfacing operation that he underwent in 2019. It’s full of slick images and hot-looking people that seem more attuned to the world of selfies and social media than the dogged old-school ways of Murray.

Andy Murray played 14 sets across three matches at the 2023 Australian Open. © Corinne Dubreuil for ATP Tour. ATP Staff Jan 21, 2023. Former World No.

I had to come in in the morning to give that time to settle. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with today.” Those sacrifices and that effort that I put in allowed me to get through those matches and play at a high level that I think was entertaining for the people watching. But I was struggling with my lower back. “Then I had to come in here. Friday, the five-time [Australian Open](https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/australian-open/580/overview) finalist appears to be in good physical condition for a man who has undergone back surgery, two hip surgeries and who has played 954 tour-level matches. I had about seven or eight blisters that I had to have drained and then he put this liquid in to dry it. “I would like to go out playing tennis like this, where I'm competing with the best players in the world in the biggest events and doing myself justice. It was also the 11th time he had rallied from two sets down to win, a record among active players. It's more enjoyable for me when I'm playing like that, when I'm coming into a major event and really believing that I can do some damage.” It's up to me to try and change that.” Skip ahead four years to the Scot’s four-set defeat to the Spaniard Saturday and Murray’s immediate playing future looks brighter as a 35-year-old than it did when he was 31.

The former world No 1 was plagued by a serious hip problem for years and has had to undergo surgery on two occasions but continues to compete at a high ...

You can control the effort that you put into it, and I gave everything that I had the last three matches. You can’t control how well you’re going to play or the result. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with today. You can’t always control the outcome. I had to give that time to settle. ’Then I had to come in here to Melbourne Park.

Andy Murrays incredible run in Melbourne ended in the third round but he hopes his memorable run can be a sign of things to come I I can have a deeper run ...

I think I did a great job." "I'm competing against a guy who is 20th in the world and it's still very tight considering the circumstances. It's more enjoyable for me when I'm playing like that, when I'm coming into a major event and really believing that I can do some damage. When asked whether the sacrifices have been worthwhile, the three-time Grand Slam champion replied: "You never know exactly when the end is going to be. "I feel lots of mixed emotions," said the 35-year-old. You can control the effort that you put into it, and I gave everything that I had the last three matches.

Though disappointed with his Australian Open exit, Andy Murray was more than happy to tell his fans that he had proved a doctor wrong following his heroic ...

“You can control the effort that you put into it, and I gave everything that I had the last three matches. “There were maybe times the last year or so where I didn’t really feel like I was playing well. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with today. I had about seven or eight blisters that I had to have drained, and then he (the podiatrist) put this liquid in to dry it. I had to give that time to settle. “Then I had to come in here to Melbourne Park.

Andy Murray's heroic Australian Open run is over but he has now sent a cheeky message to a pessimistic doctor who doubted his return to top level tennis.

But the 35-year-old, who has metal in his hip, eventually succumbed and crashed out in a valiant four set defeat on the Margaret Court Arena. “I think we dispelled that myth the last 5 days. Andy Murray has been proving doubters wrong his entire career and he could take plenty of satisfaction as he dispelled a ‘myth’ one pessimistic doctor told him six years ago.

Murray finished his second-round match at 4am on Friday and was back playing at Melbourne Park 39 hours later to face the Spanish 24th seed. "I can have a ...

It's more enjoyable for me when I'm playing like that, when I'm coming into a major event and really believing that I can do some damage." "I would like to go out playing tennis like this, where I'm competing with the best players in the world in the biggest events and doing myself justice." Murray announced at the 2019 Australian Open that he planned to have hip resurfacing surgery, which he feared would end his career. "The sacrifices and the effort I put in allowed me to get through those matches [against Berrettini and Kokkinakis] and play at a high level that I think was entertaining for the people watching. "There were maybe times in the last year or so where I didn't really feel like I was playing well and I didn't enjoy the way that I was playing," he said. Andy Murray says he is doing himself "justice" at major events and believes he can still "do some damage" following his Australian Open exit.

The Scot fell to a 6-1 6-7 (7) 6-3 6-4 defeat by Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round.

Those sacrifices and that effort that I put in allowed me to get through those matches and play at a high level that I think was entertaining for the people watching. That was really the main thing that I was struggling with today. I think I did a great job.” It’s more enjoyable for me when I’m playing like that, when I’m coming into a major event and really believing that I can do some damage. But I’m also disappointed because I put loads of work into the beginning of this year and was playing well enough to have a really good run. “I think even tonight, I’m competing against a guy who is 20th in the world, and it’s still very tight considering the circumstances.

Former world number one Andy Murray's Australian Open campaign may have come to an end on Saturday but the Brit exited the competition with his head held ...

There were maybe times, the last year or so when I didn’t really feel like I was playing well, and I didn’t enjoy the way that I was playing. You can control the effort that you put into it, and I gave everything that I had in the last three matches. However, this dream run came to an end after Murray suffered a four-set defeat in the third round against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut.

Back in 2017 Andy Murray was told that he "won't be able to play professional sport again" if he gets his hip fixed, but six years later he is still ...

[News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/news/) [Australian Open](https://www.tennis365.com/category/australian-open/) [Live Tennis](https://www.tennis365.com/category/live-tennis/) [Tennis News](https://www.tennis365.com/category/tennis-news/) [John McEnroe insists Andy Murray was hurt by late finish](https://www.tennis365.com/tennis-news/john-mcenroe-insists-andy-murray-was-hurt-by-late-finish/)

The Scot was at least able to put his blistered feet up on Sunday after his hopes of a deep run in Melbourne ended with a four-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut ...

I think of all the players that were playing, I’d finished the most amount of points up at the net and finished a lot of points with winners.” For the crowd, it’s entertaining, it’s exciting, to have matches at midnight, 1, 2, 3am. You have your sleeping cycle, rhythm disrupted completely, not enough time really to recover for another five-setter. “My body obviously has had a lot of load and stress go through it these last few days. That’s the ultimate decision maker. “I finished a lot of points up at the net during this event, which was really positive.

Johnson, Trump and Bolsonaro have yet to make their actual political comebacks. They're still in the 'eyeing' stage, and may they stay there until hell freezes ...

An ability to focus and endure, a super-abundance of the carnaptious – a particularly Scottish trait – and a wealth of experience. Is it a statement of political fact, a nod to the enduring grip of the patriarchy and the fact that power still resides with a socio-economic grouping often described as ‘pale, male and stale’? And don’t forget that by the time he faced Kokkinakis he had already disposed of hulking Italian Matteo Berrettini, the tournament’s 13th seed, in a game which itself lasted just under five hours. It’s the stuff of dreams and the stuff of films, but it’s better than both because it’s real, dramatic and entirely unscripted. It’s how you snatch victory from the jaws of defeat rather than the other way round. It’s not good for the players” – but he well knows that everyone who did stay in the arena into the wee hours witnessed something special and historic. And not for nothing was former US president Bill Clinton known as the Comeback Kid: he became the first Democrat since Franklin D Roosevelt to be re-elected president, and that in teeth of personal and financial scandal. He was Italian Prime Minister for nine years across three stints between 1994 and 2011 and, despite being sentenced to four years in prison for tax fraud in 2013, became an MEP and is currently a member of the Italian senate having been elected last year. But it’s probably only a matter of time before one or other of them makes a bid for the limelight again. A result of the face at the window too often belonging to one of those people who get me swearing and shouting at the telly. I sometimes think I dreamt the horror show that was their 44-day stint in the cake shop. [golf](/sport/golf/) course, in the cryo-lab for a tune-up and a spray job, or working hard to stay out of prison, three activities which occupy much of his time these days.

Former world No 1 Andy Murray has called on changes to be made to next years Australian Open schedule, while nine-time champion Novak Djokovic says the ...

If you just put on one match at night and there's an injury, you don't have anything for fans or broadcasters." It's disrespectful to you, disrespectful to the ball children, disrespectful to the players and we are not allowed to go to the toilet. I do remember very vividly the match that Baghdatis played with Hewitt." For the crowd, it's entertaining, it's exciting, to have matches at midnight, 1, 2, 3am. "I think tennis likes these kind of matches. Murray expressed his unhappiness at having to play at such a late hour, saying: "It's a joke, it's a joke.

Andy Murray will make his world ranking a priority after his Australian Open exit in bid to avoid another gruelling Grand Slam schedule... after spending more ...

I think of all the players that were playing, I'd finished the most amount of points up at the net and finished a lot of points with winners.' For the crowd, it's entertaining, it's exciting, to have matches at midnight, 1, 2, 3am. 'My body obviously has had a lot of load and stress go through it these last few days. 'I finished a lot of points up at the net during this event, which was really positive. When I move well, it allows me to play the game style that is most effective for me. after spending more than 14 HOURS on court in three matches

“I will certainly be trying to improve my ranking in the next few months.I can have a deeper run than the third round of a slam, there's no question about that.

And it's got to be driven by Andy obviously and his passion is off the charts.” He faces a decision over the claycourt season - he played in Madrid but not the French Open last year- before the build-up to grass. “If you want to have good runs in these events you have to beat the best players at some stage. He lost to world No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the first round of the 2021 US Open. Obviously in the last few years some of the draws at Slams have been very tricky. [Andy Murray](/latest/andy-murray) has been backed to go on a deep run at Wimbledon after the Scot targeted securing a seeding for his home Grand Slam.

Andy Murray has made undeniable recent strides but aged 35, could do with avoiding the epic encounters that have built his legacy.

Still, as Murray returns home to prepare for his coming events, he leaves with the sense of progress that should certainly validate his efforts. As Berrettini’s level, and serving, increased, he went blow for blow with a top player in full flight and had chances to swiftly end the match, standing two points away from victory in the third set tiebreak and then holding break points in the fourth set. It ended up being a smart decision as he played some of the best tennis of the year, reaching the third round in Madrid where he was due to face Novak Djokovic before contracting illness. Should he hope to move towards the top 32 in order to secure seeding in the second half of the season, he must start making positive strides. While Murray feels he is in far better shape to battle with top players than last season, his The obvious obstacle, as he discussed throughout last season, is his ranking.

The Scot was at least able to put his blistered feet up on Sunday after his hopes of a deep run in Melbourne ended with a four-set loss to Roberto Bautista Agut ...

I think of all the players that were playing, I’d finished the most amount of points up at the net and finished a lot of points with winners.” For the crowd, it’s entertaining, it’s exciting, to have matches at midnight, 1, 2, 3am. You have your sleeping cycle, rhythm disrupted completely, not enough time really to recover for another five-setter. “My body obviously has had a lot of load and stress go through it these last few days. That’s the ultimate decision maker. “I finished a lot of points up at the net during this event, which was really positive.