Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut: Live updates from Melbourne
Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut LIVE: Brit loses the first set in just 29 minutes against dogged Spaniard – as he looks to make the fourth round of a major for the first time in SIX years
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the Australian Open third-round clash between Andy Murray and Roberto Bautista Agut.
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The Spaniard again comfortably closes out his service game to take a 4-2 lead in the second set.
He’s still up a break on Murray.
Also in action at the moment is Australian Open favourite Novak Djokovic who is currently 5-4 up in the first set against Grigor Dimitrov.
We will give you updates on who takes the sets in that match.
Better serving from Murray in that game though everytime he takes a step forward, an unforced error pulls him two steps back.
t 30-15 he goes long from a simple forehand to bring Bautista Agut level. But after a great 23-shot rally, Murray brings up game point with a brilliant backhand to make it 40-30.
He can’t convert the game point but then from deuce he manages to hold and the crowd erupts.
It’s perhaps not surprising to see Murray’s performance given how late his second round match played earlier this week.
Murray is a couple of steps behind Bautista Agut and needs to find another gear quickly or this could get ugly.
3 – Andy Murray has three double faults in the first set against Roberto Bautista Agut, he had three in the entire match against Thanasi Kokkinakis. Missing. #AusOpen
Bautista Agut holds to love with an ace again! Murray is furious with how he is performing so far.
The pressure is building mentally on Murray who already has 16 unforced errors to his name.
Bautista Agut squanders his first chance at the break point with a failed backhand but Murray then double faults – his fourth of the day – and the Spaniard is in the driving seat in this second set.
Murray smashes a forehand into the net and slams his racquet into the ground. Big chance here for Bautista Agut.
Murray can’t lay a finger on Bautista Agut during the Spaniard’s service games.
The Scot is looking frustrated as his opponent takes another love hold when he hits another forehand into the net.
Just the start Murray needed in the second set as he holds serve
Bautista Agut fails to keep a backhand short of the baseline. Murray then copies him, before his Spanish opponent hands him a point back.
Murray smashes an ace and then holds with a drop shot.
Bautista Agut sealed that first set in just 29 minutes.
Murray sticks a thumb up to his team but he knows he has a big challenge ahead after how that first set went.
The perfect game, a love hold, finishes off a near perfect first set for Agut.
Murray is not looking very good at all here and he’s in for a major fight against the Spaniard.
Murray’s in danger here in the first set and there’s perhaps a bit of fatigue showing here from his hard fought first two victories in Melbourne.
Agut manages to break Murray for a second time.
For most of the match so far Agut has been in cruise control but Murray seems to be settling in now.
Baustista Agut hits an ace before Murray responds in the next rally with a driving cross court backhand.
It’s not enough to get him a chance at a break though as Agut closes out the game with a forehand to the baseline that Murray can only hook out of play.
The Margaret Court Arena is definitely on Team Murray today unlike when he played Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis the other day!
But it’s been a difficult start for the Scot who found himself 3-0 down after his opponent broke Murray and held onto his two serves.
Murray finally though has a game to his name as he doesn’t give up a point on his second serving game.
And welcome everybody’s to Sportsmail’s live coverage of Andy Murray’s third round match with Roberto Bautista Agut.
We bring you straight into the match which has not long got underway and unfortunately it’s been a difficult start for the last Brit standing at the Australian Open.
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