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.