Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut – Third Round – Preview & Prediction | 2023 Australian Open
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THE FACTS
When is Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut on and what time does it start? Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut will take place on Saturday 21st January, 2023 – not before 08:00 (UK)
Where is Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut taking place? Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut will take place at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia
What surface is Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut being played on? Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut
What channel is Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut on in the UK? Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut will be televised live on Eurosport
Where can I stream Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut in the UK? Eurosport subscribers can stream Andy Murray vs Roberto Bautista Agut live on their website, while Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match live on Sky Go
THE LOWDOWN
Former world number one Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis produced an incredible display on Thursday, and for the most part Friday morning, in a five-set epic that saw the Brit come back from two sets down to win. The result saw Murray set a new record with 11 wins from two sets down on tour in what proved to be the longest match of his almost two decades-long career. 35-year-old Murray has finished runner-up at the Australian Open a remarkable five times, making up almost half of his 11 Grand Slam finals, of which include his US Open win in 2012 and Wimbledon titles in 2013 and 2016.
World number 25 Roberto Bautista Agut also came back from two sets down to beat qualifier Brandon Holt on Thursday in an altogether more patient match of tennis. The 34-year-old finished runner-up to Soonwoo Kwon at Adelaide 2 last week after also beating an impressive Thanasi Kokkinakis, defending champion there, in the semi-finals. Bautista Agut reached the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2019, the same season he set a career-best run to the quarter-finals here in Melbourne that started with a five-set victory over Andy Murray.
THE PREDICTION
There will always be an extra narrative to matches between Andy Murray and Roberto Bautista Agut since their now infamous five-set meeting here in the first round in 2019. Murray had given a sombre press conference before the match where he suggested, but did not confirm, that the pain he was in was becoming too much to bare and that prompted a bizarre running-to-conclusions by the Australian Open to play an apparent farewell montage on court after Murray’s defeat to Bautista Agut. That moment looks intensely silly four years on after the Brit, playing the best tennis since his now clearly successful hip resurfacing surgery, has reached the third round via two five-set thrillers over former world number six Matteo Berrettini and an inspired Thanasi Kokkinakis.
Murray will want this win more than most to finally put a pin in that unofficial retirement but it remains to be seen how he can function after spending 10 hours on court in two rounds, finishing his previous match at 4AM. Bautista Agut will have to play the villain of the piece here but the Spaniard is a consummate professional, well capable of stretching out points to try and exhaust his opponent here. The pair share a 3-3 head-to-head record but RBA has won each of their last three meetings, the last two coming very comfortably last season in Doha and Basel. However, the kind of tennis Murray is producing in Melbourne is at least reminiscent of his halcyon days, where he beat the Spaniard in straight sets on three occasions. Back both players to win at least a set and leave the victor up to chance.
