Australian Open 2022 - Andy Murray knocked out as impressive Taro Daniel reaches third round for first time

Andy Murray was knocked out of the Australian Open after a straight-sets defeat to Taro Daniel. Daniel reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time with perhaps a career-best performance, taking it 6-4 6-4 6-4. Ad/> Murray was largely unable to impose himself in the opening two sets, perhaps guilty of playing a touch too passively.

Australian Open'Dangerous work' — Daniel almost hits umpire with wild return of Murray serve3 HOURS AGO By contrast, Daniel, who had never previously been beyond the second round at a Grand Slam, impressed, producing a succession of particularly flat and fierce forehands down the line. The 28-year-old, ranked 120th in the world, has just a single career ATP title but felled a disappointed Murray, who was not rallied by a partisan crowd in his favour as the qualifier produced a shock. «It's amazing.

Winning a match like this, here, with a lot of people, especially after Covid — it's unbelievable,» said Daniel after a fine win. «It's an amazing level for me. I was cramping a little bit at the start of the third set but I tried not to make such a big deal out of the match.

It's important, but it's not important. »I was trying to feel the energy within my body — I had goosebumps a couple of times during the match. Amazing!" A hard-fought, long battle contested of increasingly frequent long rallies, Daniel was not cowed by an experienced and in-form Murray.

He broke five times and also produced an impressive serving performance, winning nearly 80% of points on first serve. Murray struggled to convert his opportunities to break, taking just two of 11 across the match. That enabled Daniel to push into a two-set advantage, even as he began to fatigue after taking the second set 6-4.