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The 34-year-old Scot had high hopes of his return to Melbourne
Park after an absence of two years but they were shattered by
inspired Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel in three sets on John
Cain Arena.
"I'm really, really disappointed. Very frustrated. A tough loss
for me, that's for sure," Murray said after the 6-4 6-4 6-4
defeat to the world number 120.
"I made way too many errors today. Yeah, wasn't able to turn it
around today, but he definitely was solid today. He moved well
and deserved to win."
Three years and two hip operations after he sat in the interview
room tearfully proclaiming his career over, Murray said whether
he returned to Melbourne Park in 2023 depended on how he got on
at big events in 2022.
"This is a really important year for me for a number of reasons,
and I want to perform well in the big events," the three-times
Grand Slam champion added.
"For me, tonight is not good enough in that respect. You know,
making the second round of slams is not something I find
particularly motivating. I want to be doing better than that."
Murray dismissed the idea that his five-set battle in the
opening round on Tuesday had been behind his lacklustre display
on John Cain Arena as Daniel bounced along the baseline firing
winner after winner.
Murray made 34 unforced errors over the first two sets but
showed flashes of the tennis that got him to five Australian
Open finals with a break at the start of the third.
The crowd, sniffing another famous Murray comeback, roared their
delight but American-born Daniel silenced them by breaking back
immediately.
Murray continued to put pressure on his opponent's serve but
Daniel always found a way to fend him off, including one
breathtaking backhand crosscourt winner to hold for 4-4.
Daniel made the decisive break in the next game when Murray
miscued a backhand before serving out for victory, sealing the
deal at the net after a little bit of serve-and-volley.
"Amazing level from me," said Daniel, who will play Steve
Johnson or Jannik Sinner in his first tie in the third round at
a Grand Slam.
"Being able to do that for three sets straight against somebody
who is obviously a legend ... I'm really happy with that."
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney in Sydney, editing by Angus MacSwan
and Hugh Lawson)
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