Andy Murray, a five-time finalist, suffered an early exit from the Australian Open on Monday, as the British veteran was outmatched by Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Despite putting up a strong fight in a 61-minute first set, the 36-year-old, who has hinted at the possibility of this being his final season, was gradually worn down by the 30th seed, ultimately losing 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.
"Very tough for me playing with a legend like Andy," said Etcheverry, 12 years younger than his opponent. "He is one of my idols, but today I played incredible. I just tried to play my game and focus on my points."
Murray's defeat dashed the hopes of fans anticipating a potential third-round clash with defending champion Novak Djokovic.
For Etcheverry, who reached the French Open quarter-finals last year, to secure a face-off with the top seed, he must first overcome another seasoned player, Frenchman Gael Monfils.
Murray faced a challenging conclusion to 2023, winning just one match in his last four tournaments. In Brisbane this month, he declared that he would conclude his career if the upcoming 12 months unfold similarly.
A winner of Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, as well as the US Open title in 2012, Murray belongs to a golden generation approaching the conclusion of their illustrious careers. Roger Federer retired in 2022, and Rafael Nadal, dealing with injuries in 2023, is absent from the Australian Open due to a muscle tear.
At 36, Djokovic is still aspiring to augment his record tally of 24 Grand Slam titles before retiring from professional tennis.
(With AFP inputs)
