Brits at the Australian Open: British hopes ended as Andy Murray & Dan Evans bow out

bet365 News Team Updated: 04 Jul 23 14:33 Published: 16 Jan 23 10:33

We will be keeping you up to date with the progress of all of Britain's hopefuls at the Australian Open this month.

Britain's slim Australian Open hopes were ended on Saturday morning as the two remaining hopefuls were beaten in the third round.

Andy Murray had defied the odds to produce two sensational five-set victories to secure a last 32 clash with Spanish seed Roberto Bautista Agut, but it proved a game too far as the Agut prevailed in four-sets.

Murray had opportunities to have taken the game to a fifth-set after breaking early in the fourth to establish a 2-0 lead, only for Agut to up the ante and win six of the next eight games to secure his progression through to the second week courtesy of a 6-1, 6-7, 6-3, 6-4 success.

Murray, a five-time Australian Open, was eliminated just hours after fellow Britain Dan Evans was comfortably beaten by fifth seen Andrey Rublev in straight sets.

The British number two had dropped just a solitary set en-route to round three, but was well off the pace against the superb Russian who notched up a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 success in just over two hours.

Men's Australian Open

Britain have a total of five male representatives in the 2023 Australian Open...

Cameron Norrie (Eliminated)

The current British male number one, Cameron Norrie has been knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round following a five-set thriller against plucky 21-year-old Czech player Jiri Lehecka.

The current world number 12, Norrie's early exit perhaps represents an opportunity missed in this year's opening Grand Slam, with the top two in the world in Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal no longer in the running, and Novak Djokovic struggling through his own second round match with injury.

Dan Evans (Eliminated)

Britain's number two Dan Evans was unable to follow up his impressive straight sets triumph over Jeremy Chardy as Andrey Rublev brushed aside the 32-year-old in just over two hours.

Evans never really got going against the impressive Russian, taking just nine games as the fifth seed chalked up a routine 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 success to secure his passage through to round four.

Jack Draper (Eliminated)

Young British prospect Jack Draper has been eliminated in the first round of the Australian Open by the legendary Rafael Nadal in four sets.

To take a set off the Spanish great in a Grand Slam is an achievement in itself for Draper, who suffered with cramping issues during the contest at Melbourne Park.

The world number 38's performance still displayed his undoubted potential in the sport, with Nadal complimenting his opponent following the match.

Andy Murray (Eliminated)

British tennis icon Andy Murray saw his Australian Open dreams crushed by Roberto Bautista Agut after another courageous performance in the third round.

The Scotsman, who looked to be nursing an injury and looking fatigued following his quite remarkable second round exploits, ultimately ran out of steam, as the Spaniard got over the line in four sets.

Despite going past 4am in his pulsating round two victory, whilst also looking incredibly fatigued, Murray somehow found the energy to trouble the seeded Agut, and at one point looked to be primed to take the game to another fifth set after breaking early in the fourth and establishing a 2-0 lead.

However, Agut rattled off six of the next eight legs to break the heart of Murray and secure himself a spot in the second week of the competition, and keep alive his own hopes of claiming silverware.

Kyle Edmund (Eliminated)

Kyle Edmund suffered a heavy straight sets defeat to Italian tournament contender Jannik Sinner as he continues his comeback from a long-term knee injury.

15th seed Sinner prevailed 6-4, 6-0, 6-2, and is 16/1 to win the tournament Outright.

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Women's Australian Open

There are also two female Britons participating in the Australian Open this year...

Emma Raducanu (Eliminated)

Britain's leading female player Emma Raducanu has been knocked out in the second round of the Australian Open by seventh seed Coco Gauff, losing 6-3 7-6 in Melbourne.

There were positives to take for the young Brit, though, who was unable to capitalise on two set points in the second set against the American number two in a battling performance.

Raducanu will now turn her attention to the rest of the ATP Tour this year, with the next Grand Slam set to take place at the French Open in late May.

Harriet Dart (Eliminated)

Britain's female number two Harriet Dart is out of the 2023 Australian Open in the first round after succumbing to defeat to China's Zhu Lin in straight sets.