Retiring Murray Loses In Five Sets; Nadal, Federer, Wozniacki, Sharapova Advance, Isner Falls
(January 14, 2019) In what likely could have been his last match at the Australian Open, three-time major champion Andy Murray lost a five-set effort to No. 22 seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(4) in just over four hours on the first day of the Australian Open.
The 31-year-old Murray announced last week that was retiring from tennis due to his right hip injury. He had surgery on the hip a year ago, but has still struggled on court due to on-going pain. He said that he wanted to end his career at Wimbledon.
“If this was my last match, it was an amazing way to end. I literally gave it everything I had.”
“Maybe I’ll see you again, I’ll do everything possible to try,” Murray said on court after the match. “If I want to go again I’ll need to have a big operation, which there’s no guarantee I’ll be able to come back from anyway but I’ll give it my best shot.”
Former Australian Open champions Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Angelique Kerber, Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki advanced on the first day of play.
The 2009 champion Rafael Nadal beat No. 238th-ranked James Duckworth 6-4, 6-3, 7-5.
Defending champion Caroline Wozniacki, the third seed beat Alison Van Uytvanck 6-3, 6-4, while men’s defending champion Roger Federer beat Denis Istomin in straight sets.
Second seed and 2016 winner Angelique Kerber won 6-2, 6-2 over Polona Hercog.
The 2008 Australian Open champion, Maria Sharapova, overpowered British qualifier Harriet Dart 6-0, 6-0 in Rod Laver Arena.
Fifth-seeded Kevin Anderson dropped a set, but advanced with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over Adrian Mannarino. It’s his first win in Melbourne since 2015.
The women’s fifth seed, Sloane Stephens bounced back from a 0-2 deficit to beat fellow American Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2. It’s her first victory at the Australian Open since 2014.
There were a few upsets on the day in Melbourne on Monday.
Ninth seed John Isner hit more aces than his opponent Reilly Opelka, 47-40, but still lost to the young American, ranked 97th in the world 7-6 (4), 7-6 (6), 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5).
The 21-year-old Opelka is an inch taller than Isner at 6-foot-11 inches.
Veteran Tomas Berdych sent 2018 Australian Open semifinalist and 13th seed Kyle Edmund packing for home early home right away this year with a 6-3, 6-0, 7-5 win.
Julia Goerges, the 14th seed lost to American Danielle Collins 2-6, 7-6(5), 6-4. It was the first-ever main draw win at a major for Collins.
No. 22 seed 2017 French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko has been beaten 6-1, 3-6, 6-2 by Maria Sakkari in the first round.
Katie Boulter has the honor of being the first person to win the first 10-point tiebreaker under the Australian Open’s new rule for determining level deciding sets.
Boulter stopped Ekaterina Makarova 6-0, 4-6, 7-6 (10-6). The British woman initially forgot that the first to get to 10 points would be the victor, when she led 7-4 and prematurely celebrated.
More to follow……
