The clock is ticking for Andy Murray – after Australian Open exit how much longer can he keep doing this?

• Impressive qualifier Daniel wins in straight sets 6-4 6-4 6-4

• Murray suffers first grand-slam loss to opponent outside top 100

• Daniel, 28, reaches third round of slam for first time in career

The question is how much longer Andy Murray can keep doing this to himself. He had tried everything possible to prepare his battered body for this Australian Open, and yet it all unravelled in only his second match with a straight-sets defeat to Taro Daniel, a Japanese qualifier through to the third round of a slam at the 17th attempt.

It is his manner to soften any disappointments in this second coming with fatalistic humour. He is accustomed to his children telling him, whenever he returns home early from tournaments: “Daddy lost another tennis match again.” But this latest setback will cut deeper than most.

At last summer’s Wimbledon, Murray was inconsolable after being crushed by Denis Shapovalov. The difference was that the Canadian was the 10th seed. Daniel arrived here as the ultimate tour itinerant, the world No 120, the type of adversary whom peak Murray could have dispatched in third gear.

Daniel even claimed he was cramping during the third set, but still Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist, could not put a dent in him. It was a galling reminder of just how far away he remains from the level to which he aspires.

The grim reality is that Murray’s results reflect no clear trajectory. His comeback after a hip resurfacing operation has been more a series of isolated moments: an improbable tour title in Antwerp in 2019, a couple of cathartic late-night victories at Wimbledon, and a four-hour nostalgia trip in Melbourne this week to defeat Nikoloz Basilashvili, the world No 22. He talked afterwards of his pride that he could still outgun players of such pedigree. The problem is that he appears unable to back up his breakthroughs. Daniel is the lowest-ranked player to whom he has ever lost at a major.

The clock is ticking ever more loudly. The more he is knocked down, and the more he fails to bring his own expectations to fruition, the more difficult it becomes to haul himself off the floor. Murray has spoken candidly of how his motivation falters when consistency eludes him. Against this backdrop, the loss to Daniel will feel gut-wrenching.

Story continues

One of his former coaches had predicted before this match that Murray would deal with such an inexperienced player easily. But nothing is straightforward in Murray’s compromised physical condition. No sooner does he dare to believe he can still be a contender than his confidence is shattered afresh.

Murray did not linger long after this chastening experience, sloping off John Cain Arena to an uncertain future. The Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired “siu” chants, easily misconstrued as booing, had been back in force here, even though Murray had expressed his irritation at the noise after his first-round victory. But this time he was distracted less by the raucous background than by the lightning speed of his opponent.

In his prime, he would have had little trouble subduing Daniel. At 28, this nimble Japanese talent has flattered to deceive in his career. But Murray, limited in his lateral movement by his metal hip, clearly found him a nightmare to face.

It was not so much that he could not live with Daniel in the longer rallies as the fact that he lacked the single, decisive weapon to punch through the resistance of a younger, more mobile athlete. He had the dexterity and imagination to outsmart the qualifier, but he looked incapable of overpowering him.

No matter how much he tried to vary his angles or to unleash his once-devastating crosscourt forehands, the ball kept being fired back by Daniel with interest. The mind was willing but the body, sadly, could not comply.

A telling moment arrived deep in the third set, as Murray scrambled desperately to hold serve. Just when he thought he had pounded a winner, in rushed Daniel to contrive a delicious drop shot, forcing a break from which there was to be no way back.

For Murray, his own sternest critic, many dark nights of the soul await.

Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel – as it happened

10:02 AM

Disappointment for Murray

But he showed in the warm-up tournament in Sydney and the first round in Melbourne that he can still beat quality opponents. Daniel was just too good for him today.

09:56 AM

That is the first time

Andy Murray has ever lost to a player ranked outside the top 100 at a grand slam (Taro Daniel is currently ranked No 120 in the world).

Murray’s defeat to then world No 91 Arnaud Clement was the previous lowest, in the second round of the US Open back in 2005.

In all fairness, Daniel was absolutely inspired and was hitting winners off both wings. His ranking doesn’t reflect the level he played at today.

As for Murray, you do have to wonder how much that gruelling five-setter against Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round took out of the 34-year-old.

But all credit to his opponent, Daniel was superb and deserved to progress.

09:48 AM

Emma Raducanu updates

The British teenager lost the first set of her match to Danka Kovinic 4-6 but is fighting back after a medical timeout. You can follow live updates here.

09:43 AM

Reaction from the winner

Taro Daniel was interviewed by Eurosport after his stunning victory.

09:40 AM

Here’s how Daniel wrapped it up

09:37 AM

GAME, SET, MATCH! Murray 4-6, 4-6, 4-6 Daniel

A booming ace at 15-15 and Daniel is two points away from his first-ever trip to a grand slam third round. Make that one point after Murray nets. Match point for Daniel… and he wins it in style, dashing in after his sliced serve out wide and putting away the volley! Daniel wins 6-4 6-4 6-4! Murray will be disappointed but he can’t complain – Daniel was absolutely superb out there today.

09:30 AM

Murray 4-6, 4-6, 4-5 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Worrying times for Murray as Daniel flicks a delightful drop shot to reach 15-30 with the Scot stuck at the back of the court. And then Daniel races up to the net after a Murray drop shot and manages to get the ball back, forcing an error and creating two break points. Murray repels the first, but then he shovels a backhand into the net and Daniel has the crucial break in this third set! He will be serving for the match.

09:25 AM

Murray* 4-6, 4-6, 4-4 Daniel (*denotes next server)

It looks as if Daniel is on course for a comfortable service hold, cantering into a 40-0 lead. But Murray finds another gear to get back to 40-30 and pile a bit of pressure on his opponent. No problem for Daniel though, he draws Murray to the net and then whips a backhand past him to wrap up the game before roaring with delight!

09:19 AM

Murray 4-6, 4-6, 4-3 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Daniel dominates the first rally in this Murray service game, a crisp backhand dragging the Briton wide and forcing him to net as he stretches to return. The Japanese player senses an opportunity at 15-30 after a battering ram of a backhand, but Murray hits back to win the next three points.

Another crunching backhand from Daniel takes us to deuce. Murray gets to advantage but then misses a backhand out wide. But he manages to hold – following up a big serve with a put-away at the net.

09:11 AM

Murray* 4-6, 4-6, 3-3 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Oh, this is a touch of genius from Murray! Daniel unleashes another forehand missile but the Scot anticipates it and somehow manages to send a full-stretch volley across court for a winner. Daniel wins the next two points to reach 40-15, but then Murray does likewise, including a beautiful drop-volley, and it’s deuce. Roars from the crowd as they sense an opening for the five-time Aussie Open finalist. But Daniel closes the door, dispatching a volley before forcing Murray into a forehand error.

09:05 AM

Murray 4-6, 4-6, 3-2 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

After securing an early break in this set, Murray would have hoped to take control and shift the momentum back in his favour. But Daniel hit back immediately and is still showing few signs of nerves, banging two forehand winners to claw his way back from 30-0 down in this game. That bazooka of a forehand is still firing midway through the third set. But Murray takes advantage of a Daniel error before crunching a forehand winner of his own down the line to hold.

08:59 AM

Murray* 4-6, 4-6, 2-2 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Murray puts away a leaping forehand volley to give himself a sniff of an opening in this Daniel service game at 15-30. But his opponent totally dictates the next rally, with Murray’s backhand finishing at the base of the net. Murray still fighting though and manages to create a break-point chance after a 24-shot rally, with Daniel’s looping forehand flying too long.

But he misses a golden opportunity to secure the break, running on to a ball mid-court which he must fancy dispatching but he sends a backhand long! That kind of shot is normally his bread and butter, and Murray looks up at his box with a wry smile. Daniel wins the next two points to hold and add to Murray’s frustration.

08:52 AM

Murray 4-6, 4-6, 2-1 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

And just like that we’re back on serve. Murray will be ticking. He leads 30-15 in the game but then loses three points in short order – with a double-fault handing an instant break back to his opponent.

08:48 AM

Murray* 4-6, 4-6, 2-0 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Daniel smashes two aces in succession to start his first service game of this set – his ninth and 10th of the match. But Murray fights back, much to the delight of the crowd, and pummels a forehand winner. Suddenly he has break point after two errors from Daniel! The qualifier saves the point – but Murray keeps the pressure on and opens up another break-point chance. And a double-fault allows Murray to secure the break!

08:42 AM

Murray 4-6, 4-6, 1-0 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

A change of shirts for Daniel during the break. But no change in his performance level – fighting back from 30-0 with a couple of forehand missiles. A slightly weary-looking Murray holds serve though, putting away a backhand volley to create game point before Daniel goes wide with a double-handed backhand from the baseline.

08:35 AM

Murray* 4-6, 4-6 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Daniel starts with an ace up the middle – that will settle the nerves. And he leads 30-0 as Murray looks for the line with a cross-court backhand but sends it just wide. A yelp of frustration from the Briton. And just to rub salt into the wounds Daniel then manages to find the line with a forehand which creates three set points! A short exchange and then Murray goes long with a forehand. Daniel leads by two sets to love!

08:32 AM

Murray 4-6, 4-5 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Job done from Murray, on serve at least, winning this game for the loss of just a point. That’s just what he would’ve wanted – but can he make a dent on Daniel’s serve? He had an opportunity to break right at the start of this set but there hasn’t been much of a look-in since then…

08:29 AM

Murray* 4-6, 3-5 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Daniel holds impressively – and comfortably – once more. Murray is unable to get a couple of big serves back, allowing the Japanese player to take a 40-15 lead, and yet another ace secures the game. Murray needs to hold serve to stay alive in this set.

08:25 AM

Murray 4-6, 3-4 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Uh oh. Another opening for Daniel on Murray’s serve as he wins the first couple of points and it’s 0-30. But the three-times grand slam champion shuts the door, winning four points in succession to hold, including an ace. There’s still just that one break separating these two in this set so Murray still has a chance to comeback.

08:22 AM

Murray* 4-6, 2-4 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Another comfortable hold for Daniel and he is keeping the pressure up. Murray darts into the net at 30-15 but fails to put away his volley, and then his opponent bangs another ace down to wrap the game up.

08:17 AM

Murray 4-6, 2-3 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

What a shot. Murray look to be in total control of this rally, whipping a forehand to the deuce side but Daniel puts on the after-burners to chase it down and then leathers a winner down the line! Murray rooted to the spot, there was absolutely nothing he could do about that.

More trouble for Murray who finds himself break point down again, but he claws his way back to deuce with Daniel shovelling his shot into the tram lines. Then a back-hand from Daniel finds the net… and Murray holds as the world No 120 goes wide.

08:07 AM

Murray* 4-6, 1-3 Daniel (*denotes next server)

And Daniel breezes through his service game to love to back up that break. He is absolutely in the zone at the moment.

08:05 AM

Murray 4-6, 1-2 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Alarm bells for Murray as he slips to 15-40, with Daniel smiting a forehand cross-court which leaves the Briton flat-footed. And then the Japanese secures the break with no bother, hitting a wonderful backhand winner which Murray can’t lay his racket on! A couple of blistering winners for Daniel and what a turnaround after he looked set to be broken in the previous game.

08:00 AM

Murray* 4-6, 1-1 Daniel (*denotes next server)

From 15-15, the players share the longest rally of the match so far. Murray is noticeably more aggressive and manages to manoeuvre his opponent out of position with Daniel’s backhand falling wide.

Murray has a first sight of an opening in this set as Daniel pumps a backhand long to set up two break points. But the qualifier saves both of them!

The Briton creates another break opportunity after controlling a rally on the front foot and then putting away an overhead with ease. But he can’t take advantage, failing to get a slightly-overhit drop shot back.

This is seriously impressive from Daniel. He finds an ace right when he needs one from deuce and then manages to hold as Murray nets a backhand.

07:48 AM

Murray 4-6, 1-0 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Murray in control of the first service game in the second set. He blasts a forehand winner and follows up with an ace, but Daniel fights back to cut the deficit to 40-30. After a short rally, Murray seals the game courtesy of a well-placed cross-court forehand.

07:43 AM

Murray* 4-6 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Impressive stuff from Daniel, who wraps up the first set in confident fashion! He cruises into a 30-0 advantage, before putting away a fine volley to bring up three set points. And an ace does the trick! Plenty to ponder for Murray here.

07:37 AM

Murray 4-5 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

From 30-30, Murray finds two big serves to wrap up this game, forcing Daniel to serve out if he is to win the opening set here.

07:34 AM

Murray* 3-5 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Murray canters into a 0-30 lead, before Daniel bludgeons an ace down the T to get himself going. But the Briton dominates the next rally, dragging his opponent this way and that before punching a backhand down the line and Daniel’s full-stretch forehand flies long.

Two break points for Murray here… but he can’t take either, shanking a forehand high, wide and not very handsome, before Daniel bosses the next exchange and puts away a smash with aplomb.

Then he batters a cross-court forehand past the stationary Murray and holds when the 34-year-old nets a backhand next up. Impressive resolve from Daniel to win four successive points from 15-40 down.

07:28 AM

Murray 3-4 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

It felt like Daniel’s level had dropped slightly over the previous two games after a lightning start. But he has Murray in a bit of trouble here, a beautifully-weighted drop shot forcing an error to reach 15-30, before Daniel has two break points after the Briton shovels a backhand into the net! Oh no. Murray double-faults and he has conceded the break.

07:23 AM

Murray* 3-3 Daniel (*denotes next server)

After a sluggish rally where both players seemed satisfied just to hit the ball straight back to each another, Daniel decides he’s had enough and fires a forehand across court with a little extra venom – and Murray can’t get it back.

But then Daniel goes long with a backhand and the Briton has his first break point of the match at 30-40. He fails to convert after a lengthy exchange, managing to flick back a Daniel drop shot then fend away a volley at the net – but the qualifier takes advantage of open court to put away a forehand. That’s deuce.

Another opportunity to Murray straight away as he defends impressively before lacing a backhand across court! And he converts the break this time as Daniel goes wide with a backhand.

07:14 AM

Murray 2-3 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Comfortable service hold for Murray, aided by a little bit of luck from a net cord which helps him reach 40-0. Then Daniel goes wide with a backhand and that’s that. Murray will be delighted to have wrapped up this game with no trouble after the difficulty he had last time out on serve.

07:11 AM

Murray* 1-3 Daniel (*denotes next server)

After six deuces (at least) in the previous game when he broke Murray’s serve, Daniel breezes into a 40-0 lead on serve straight away. He double-faults after attempting a massive second-serve, before Murray slams a return into the net.

07:07 AM

Murray 1-2 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Daniel has settled really nicely here – he blazes a forehand winner up the line and then drags Murray across court to force the Brit into a backhand error and lead 15-30.

Murray rights the ship with a couple of big serves, before failing to return another massive Daniel forehand and that’s deuce. Murray double-faults but Daniel can’t take advantage, slicing the next return off his frame into the John Cain Arena crowd. Back to deuce as Murray misses a forehand wide.

Another missed forehand from Murray brings up deuce No 5. And then a backtracking Daniel floats a backhand up the line – Murray chooses to leave as he thought it was going long but it drops in to give the qualifier a break point.

But he can’t capitalise, a big serve from Murray forcing another error on the backhand – Daniel’s attempted return is shanked so badly it nearly hits the umpire!

Daniel forces another break point, his forehand looks a serious weapon! And it’s third time lucky, after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing he blasts a backhand down the line and Murray can’t get it back! Daniel breaks.

06:53 AM

Murray* 1-1 Daniel (*denotes next server)

Daniel races into a 40-0 lead in his first service game, with Murray struggling to make his opponent play – overhitting two returns straight out.

A short rally breaks out but Murray bangs a backhand straight into the net and Daniel is on the board, holding serve to love.

06:50 AM

Murray 1-0 Daniel* (*denotes next server)

Murray into a decent rhythm on his serve straight away, winning the first two points without having to hit a groundstroke.

Then we have the first rally of the contest and after a brief flurry, Daniel shovels a forehand up the line before charging towards the net – and Murray fires a cross-court double-fisted backhand winner to the opposite tram line!

Daniel pumps a forehand winner up the line which Murray doesn’t bother chasing, but the Briton wraps up the game as the Japanese qualifier sends his return long.

06:46 AM

Murray wins the toss

And will serve first. Here we go.

06:42 AM

The players have arrived

A boisterous reception for Andy Murray as you’d expect. Time for a bit of a hit-up and then we’ll be under way at John Cain Arena.

06:38 AM

A bit of pre-match reading for you

From Thom Gibbs, who takes aim at the immensely irritating “siuuuu” chants which have rung out around Melbourne Park this week.

06:32 AM

A reminder of how Andy Murray reached round two

Winning a five-set thriller against Nikoloz Basilashvili which sparked memories of the epic battles of his past, according to our chief sports writer Oliver Brown.

06:12 AM

British round-up

Andy Murray is due on court against Taro Daniel from 6.30am on John Cain Arena.

Then later on this morning Emma Raducanu faces Montenegro’s Danka Kovinic on Margaret Court Arena from 8am – we will have a separate live blog for that one.

Earlier, Dan Evans was given a free passage through to the third round of the Australian Open when opponent Arthur Rinderknech withdrew. Evans will face either ninth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Saturday.

Heather Watson was unable to join Evans in the third round, the British No 2 going down 7-6 6-4 to 29th seed Tamara Zidansek.

06:00 AM

Good morning

And welcome to our live coverage of Andy Murray’s second-round match at the Australian Open against Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.

Murray defeated the 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili in an epic five-setter on Tuesday to reach the second round of this tournament for the first time since 2017.

The former world No 1, a five-time finalist in Melbourne, has seen his ranking plummet since hip surgery in 2019 and long injury layoffs that followed and needed a wildcard into the main draw of this year’s tournament.

The 113th-ranked Murray, who won the last of his three major titles at Wimbledon in 2016, showed he still had the game to trouble top players on the tour.

After his win, an emotional Murray said: “It’s amazing. It’s been a tough three-four years. I’ve put in a lot of work to get back here. I’ve played on this court many times and the atmosphere is incredible. I’ve always had fantastic support.

“This is the one where I thought potentially I’d played my last match on three years ago but amazing to be back winning a five-set battle like that. Can’t ask for anything more.”

The Briton added: “I will hopefully keep improving. There are things in my game I can definitely do better.

“I would love to have a deep run here, if possible. It is something I have not had in one of the slams since I came back from injury and it is something that is motivating me.

“I have played some of my best tennis here over the years. I feel comfortable here and I hope I can do it here this tournament.”

Daniel, who is yet to make it past the second round of a grand slam in his career so far, beat Chile’s Tomás Barrios 7-6 6-1 6-1 in round one.

Source