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Andy Murray faces challenging opener at Melbourne Park

By Harry Floyd

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 10: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves in his practice match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia ahead of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 10, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 10: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves in his practice match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia ahead of the 2019 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 10, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images) /
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Andy Murray is a five-time runner-up finisher at the Australian Open. This year, he has a difficult opening match to kick off the event.

While tennis great Andy Murray is back on the courts, he is not at his former world number one level. In many ways, he is not even close to that level. Practicing alongside current world number one Novak Djokovic, Murray was dominated during an incomplete two-set friendly.

Recently in Brisbane, the British tennis star split his matches there, winning his opener in straight sets before dropping his meeting with Daniil Medvedev.

light. Related Story. 3 Keys for Andy Murray

Up first for the former five-time finalist at the Australian Open is a difficult matchup with Roberto Bautista Agut. Looking at their career head to head, one would think that Murray has the advantage. He is undefeated against the Spanish tennis veteran, going 3-0 against Bautista Agut between 2014 and 2016. Those matches may as well be ancient history though. Right now, Bautista Agut enters the main draw at Melbourne Park as the 22nd seed in men’s singles.

Andy Murray faces a red hot Roberto Bautista Agut first at the 2019 Australian Open.

Momentum favors Bautista Agut. He is coming off of a historic run at the Qatar Open in Doha. There, he pulled off an unforeseen upset over Djokovic in the semifinals before taking the title in men’s singles.

A perfect record and one ATP singles title is exactly the type of performance any player would like heading into the Australian Open. Bautista Agut has exactly that heading into his match with the former world number one.

Murray has his work cut out for him. His practice match against Djokovic did not go as planned. He even apologized to fans for not being able to put on a better show. See Stuart Fraser’s tweet following the friendly HERE. Event still, Murray remains hopeful. He is an optimistic player and has more experience than most on the ATP Tour.

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Andy Murray may not be a favorite at the 2019 Australian Open, but he is someone to watch for different reasons. The tennis world would love to see the former world number one bounce back enough to challenge the likes of Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal on the 2019 ATP Tour. He needs to get past Bautista Agut first, but we will be looking for any and all signs of progress in Murray’s game next week. It is one match at a time for the tennis great right now.

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