Live Australian Open 2019: Andy Murray Knocked out in 1st round after losing to Agut

Background

Prajnesh Gunneswaran's debut at the 2019 Australian Open ended in a disappointment after the top ranked Indian singles player lost to American Frances Tiafoe in straight sets in the opening round of the Australian Open on Monday. Tiafoe defeated Gunneswaran 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 6-3 to set up a second round encounter with South Africa's big serving Kevin Anderson. World No.39 American beat the Indian qualifier in a match that lasted an hour and 52 minutes.

Guuneswaran put up a good fight in the first set which went into the tie-breaker after both players held their serve till the 12th game. In the tie-breaker, Tiafoe got a mini-break and then served out the set at 9-7 in the tie-breaker.

After winning the first set, the American completely dominated play against the 106th ranked Indian in the second and third sets respectively. Prajnesh's first serve let him down in the second set and his success rate was 43 percent compared to 72 per cent of the American.

Tiafoe converted two break points in the third and sixth game of the second set to take it 6-3. In the final set, Tiafoe got an important break of serve against the left-handed Gunneswaran in the eighth game and then closed the match in the ninth game to end India's lone challenge in the singles event.

In the women's event, Ankita Raina and Karman Kaur Thandi failed to cross the early hurdle losing in the second and first round respectively in the qualifiers.

18:03 PM (IST)  •  14 Jan 2019

An emotional Murray vows to return to Melbourne next year provided his body permits. However, the kind of condition his body is in right now, it looks unlikely that Murray will return next year. So this, in probability is Murray’s last in the Australian Open.

18:01 PM (IST)  •  14 Jan 2019

Andy Murray knocked out in 1st round after losing 4-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(4) 2-6 to Roberto Bautista Agut. Murray made a stunning comeback to take the match to the 5th set but it was not enough to take him to the next round.