Battling Murray crashes out as Federer, Nadal march on
Melbourne, Australia - A battling Andy Murray bowed out of the Australian Open at the first hurdle on Monday, but it was business as usual for ruthless Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal who joined Caroline Wozniacki in round two.
The Scottish five-time Melbourne Park finalist gave it everything he had and showed glimpses of the form that won him three Grand Slams, but his ailing body let him down during a gutsy 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-7 (4-7) defeat to 22nd seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
The 31 year old Murray hopes to end his career at Wimbledon, but has admitted the Australian Open could be his last event, unless he has a late change of heart.
"Amazing. That was incredible, thank you so, so much to everyone that came out tonight," he said after being given a rapturous send-off.
While his tournament ended in despair, Swiss master Federer, six years older than Murray, continued his march towards a record seventh Australian Open title. He swept past Uzbek Denis Istomin 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 and said he was in "disbelief" that he was the double defending champion at his age and vowed to give his all to make it three in a row.
"I'm going to try everything possible (to win again) and leave it all on the court," said the world No 3.
His long-time rival Nadal, who cut short his 2018 season to have surgery on a foot injury, showed no mercy to Australian wildcard James Duckworth in his opening round clash. The 17-time Grand Slam winner cruised through 6-4, 6-3, 7-5 and said it was an important victory.
Fifth seed Kevin Anderson progressed, as did NextGen Finals champion Stefanos Tsit- sipas. But ninth seed John Isner became the first top seed to crash out.
World No 3 Wozniacki, who made her Grand Slam breakthrough in Melbourne last year, opened her defence with a convincing 6-3, 6-4 win over Belgium's Alison van Uytvanck. Second seed and 2016 champion Angelique Kerber was also impressive, breezing past Slovenia's Polona Hercog 6-2, 6-2.
Maria Sharapova, a winner here in 2008, signalled her intent with a rare 6-0, 6-0 double bagel demolition of Britain's
Harriet Dart while fifth-seeded Sloane Stephens, the 2017 US Open champion, beat fellow American Taylor Townsend. Other seeded player results: Men's singles first round: Fernando Verdasco (x26) beat Miomir Kecmanovic 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-3; Karen Khachanov (x10) beat Peter Gojowczyk 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; Stefanos Tsitsipas (x14) beat Matteo Berrettini 6-7 (3-7), 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4); Nikoloz Basilashvili (x19) beat Christopher Eubanks 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3; Gael Monfils (x30) beat Damir Dzumhur 6-0, 6-4, 6-0; Kevin Anderson (x5) beat Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1; Andreas Seppi beat Steve Johnson (x31) 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Grigor Dimitrov (x20) beat Janko Tipsarevic 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4; Reilly Opelka beat John Isner (x9) 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (4-7), 7-6 (7-5); Tomas Berdych beat Kyle Edmund (x13) 6-3, 6-0, 7-5; Diego Schwartzman (x18) beat Rudolf Molleker 6-1, 6-3, 4-6, 60; Alex De Minaur (x27) beat Pedro Sousa 6-4, 7-5, 6-4; Marin Cilic (x6) beat Bernard Tomic 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3). Women's singles first round:
Yulia Putintseva beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (x32) 6-4, 7-6 (7-1); Lesya Tsurenko (x24) beat Ekaterina Alexandrova 6-4, 7-6 (7-4); Aryna Sabalenka (x11) beat Anna Kalinskaya 6-1, 6-4; Ashleigh Barty (x15) beat Luksika Kumkhum 6-2, 6-2; Maria Sakkari beat Jelena Ostapenko (x22) 6-1, 3-6, 6-2; Sloane Stephens (x5) beat Taylor Townsend 6-4, 6-2; Petra Martic (x31) beat Heather Watson 6-1, 6-2; Anett Kontaveit (x20) beat Sara Sorribes 6-3, 6-2; Kiki Bertens (x9) beat Alison Riske 6-3, 6-3; Danielle Collins beat Julia Georges (x14) 2-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4; Caroline Garcia (x19) beat Jessika Ponchet 6-2, 6-3; Donna Vekic (x29) beat Kristina Mladenovic 6-2, 6-4; Petra Kvitova (x8) beat Magdalena Rybarikova 6-3, 6-2.