Melbourne: Andy Murray fought hard for more than four hours on Monday at round 1 of the Australian Open but lost to Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (4), 6-2.
No. 22 seed Bautista Agut cut short what was being billed as one of the greatest tennis comebacks after he rediscovered his game in the fifth set.
Andy Murray the great player who is struggling with hip injury fought for every point for over four hours was a great example of Murray played.
The 31-year-old was playing through immense pain with a chronic hip injury that he tearfully admitted will end his career this season. He was struggling to move at times. He was up against a seeded player high on confidence, having beaten Stan Wawrinka, Novak Djokovic, and Tomas Berdych at the Qatar Open recently.
From two-sets-to-love down, Murray had managed to wrench himself back into the contest, amid loud cheers from a 10,000-strong crowd at the Melbourne Arena.
He had earlier announced this would be his last Australian Open owing to a chronic hip condition that made it painful for him to compete.
"I've honestly loved playing here over the years. It's an amazing place to play tennis. If this was my last match, it's an amazing way to end," Murray said in an on-court interview.
"I gave literally everything I had. It wasn't enough tonight," he said.
"Andy deserved all the people who came to watch him… it was an unbelievable match. Really good fight. He's a tough fighter, tough opponent, he gave everything until the last point," Bautista Agut said. "I want to congratulate him for all he did for tennis."
Bautista Agut will now play John Millman in the second round.
But the manner in which the Scotsman fought for every point, at the net, and on the baseline, for over four hours was a great example of he played his tennis. He always looked like he was in a battle, fighting to make his space in an era dominated by monoliths. But he persevered with grit and willpower and single-minded determination when his best game was not enough.
