Andy Murray LIVE: Tennis result and final score from Roberto Bautista Agut match at Qatar Open
The Scot’s tournament is over after a 6-0 6-1 defeat to the Spaniard, who advanced to the quarter-finals in Doha
Andy Murray is out of the Qatar Open after Roberto Bautista Agut cruised to a 6-0 6-1 win in their last 16 match on Wednesday.
The Scot made a statement against Taro Daniel in the last round, putting right the defeat to the Japanese player at last month’s Australian Open in the second round, but could not get anything going against Bautista Agut in a one-sided match in Doha.
Murray’s last match against the Spaniard came in that marathon five-set win at the Australian Open three years ago, but the 34-year-old was unable to put up a fight this time around as he lost his serve three times in the opening set as Bautista Agut served up an opening bagel.
Bautista Agut, the tournament’s second seed and world No 17, continued to dominate into the second set and although Murray was able to secure an opening hold, the Spaniard raced clear to convert two further break points and seal the win in a little over an hour.
Murray slammed his racket as his tournament came to a close and the former Wimbledon champion will hope for a longer run at the Dubai Duty Free Championships next week.
Follow live updates from Murray vs Bautista Agut below:
Andy Murray’s hard court schedule
This is the second of three tournaments Murray has signed up for this month.
After defeating Alexander Bublik in the first round in Rotterdam, Murray was defeated by Felix Auger-Aliassime, who went on to win the tournament.
He now faces Bautista Agut in Doha after defeating Taro Daniel in the opening round, with the Qatar Open an ATP 250 tournament.
Murray also plans to play in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships next week after accepting a wildcard for the main draw.
After that, the 34-year-old could head to the United States with two ATP Masters tournaments schedule at Indian Wells and Miami in March.
All about Bautista Agut
Ranked 16 in the world, Roberto Bautista Agut is a previous champion at the Qatar Open, having won the tournament in Doha back in 2019.
The 33-year-old is the number 2 seed at the tournament and received a bye into the second round.
After reaching the final of the ATP Cup with Spain, Bautista Agut was knocked out of the Australian Open at the third-round stage last month.
Bautista Agut’s victory over Murray at the 2019 Australian Open came after three previous defeats to the Scot.
Murray faces Bautista Agut again after Australian Open epic
The last time Andy Murray faced Roberto Bautista Agut, it looked as if they three-time grand slam champion was playing his last ever match in the sport.
But over three years later, Murray is still fighting on as he continues to try and improve his world ranking ahead of another shot at Wimbledon later this year.
Murray was defeated by Bautista Agut across five epic sets in the Australian Open first round in 2019, just hours after he suggested he was close to retiring from the sport.
Qatar Open Round of 16
Dan Evans is also in action in the Round of 16, facing Spaniard Davidovich Fokina, while Basilashvili takes on Ymer.
There have been some results already too, as Shapovalov and Rinderknech book their places in the quarter-finals.
While Cilic is a set up against Van de Zandschulp and it is 1-1 in sets between Kwon and Fucsovics.
Andy Murray reacts to Taro Daniel victory at Qatar Open
“Obviously the results from 12 years ago aren’t going to affect the results this week,” Murray said.
“But what it tells me is that the conditions here are good for my game, so if I can play to a good level, the courts are going to suit me here and I’ll make it difficult for everyone I play against.
“He [Daniel] played very well in Australia. He had a very good run there and was too good for me there.
“I tried to be the one dictating from the first point and I thought I did that well. It was one of the better matches I’ve played in recent months.”
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