Murray: No excuses for Aussie KO

Andy Murray offered no excuses after losing to world number 50 Mischa Zverev and crashing out of the Australian Open.

Murray had been heavy favourite to clinch a first Melbourne title following the early exit of Novak Djokovic but Zverev produced a volleying masterclass on Rod Laver Arena to seal a 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-4 victory.

Zverev won a staggering 65 points at the net and served and volleyed 119 times. He also broke Murray on eight separate occasions.

The Scot, however, usually so adept in the art of the pass and lob, was woefully out of sorts, succumbing to his earliest defeat in this tournament since 2009.

Asked if he felt flat, Murray said: “I don’t think I was flat. I feel like that’s something I get asked all the time when I lose matches. Were you flat? I don’t think I was today.

“I was getting myself pumped up. Sometimes at the end of the sets I was trying to get a little more energy, show more sort of positive body language.

“And I did that at the end of the match, at the end of the first and second sets. It just wasn’t to be today.”

Dan Evans saw his Australian Open adventure ended by defeat to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Evans was beaten 6-7 (4/7) 6-2 6-4 6-4 by Tsonga, bringing an end to an excellent tournament for the Briton, who had earlier knockedoutworldnumber seven Marin Cilic and Australian Bernard Tomic.