Australian Open 2022: Andy Murray loses to Taro Daniel, exits tournament

Tennis player Taro Daniel knocked out opponent Andy Murray of the Australian Open in the second round on Thursday, January 20.

Japan’s Daniel stunned the three-time Grand Slam winner 6-4, 6-4, 6-4, setting up a third-round tie with America’s Steve Johnson or Italy’s Jannik Sinner, according to an ESPN report.

Also Read: Australian Open: Emma Raducanu, Stefanos Tsitsipas progress to 2nd round

The world No. 120 took the first two sets with ease after a bleak display from Murray, former British men’s No. 1. Daniel is now the lowest-ranked opponent to beat him at a grand slam.

Murray broke Daniel twice at the beginning of the third set, but the qualifier Daniel was able to secure a win. 

The 28-year-old Japanese player is in the third round of a major Grand Slam for the first time. 

Also Read: Australian Open: Rafael Nadal, Ashleigh Barty ease into 3rd round

Murray had broken a five-year jinx on Tuesday at the Australian Open and won his opening game against Nikoloz Basilashvili. The five-set thriller ended with a score of 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 in favour of the British player. He said in a statement after the game, “It is amazing, it’s been a tough three or four years. I have put in a lot of work to get back here and I have played on this court many times, the atmosphere is incredible”, according to reports from ESPN.

He added, “I have always had fantastic support and this is the one I thought I played my last match on. It is amazing to be back playing a five set battle like that, I could not ask for anymore.”

Meanwhile, Britain’s Heather Watson was also defeated 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to Slovenia’s Tamara Zidansek.

Also Read: Body is wearing down: Tennis star Sania Mirza to retire after 2022 season

Yesterday, Rafael Nadal produced a clinical performance to beat German qualifier Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 and move into the third round of the Australian Open on Wednesday. The Spaniard remained on course for a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title.

Women’s singles top seed Ashleigh Barty defeated 142nd-ranked qualifier Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1 in under an hour.