Andy Murray frustrated in 2022 season opener

Andy Murray is set to make his first Australian Open appearance since 2019, but an opening loss in 2022 could prove a setback for the Brit. 

The former world number one received a wildcard into the ATP 250 Melbourne Summer Set where he faced world number 76 Facundo Bagnis in the first round.

In what was a first meeting between the two, Murray struggled to find consistency and was visibly irate as he smacked his racket at a change of ends in the third set.

The Argentine eventually came out on top 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 as Murray began 2022 in less than ideal fashion.

Murray came into the new year off the back of reaching the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in December, an Abu Dhabi exhibition event in the middle of December.

There he defeated compatriot Dan Evans and Rafael Nadal before losing to Andrey Rublev in the final.

Looking ahead to the Australian Open on 17th January, Murray also has a wildcard to that event, requiring one due to his current ranking of world number 134.

The Brit memorably had a tearful exit from the 2019 tournament as he believed it could be his final appearance in Melbourne.

After recovering to be fit for the 2021 event, Murray had his hopes of competing then dashed by a positive Covid test.

However, the five-time finalist does look set to make a 14th career appearance at the Slam.

Having secured victory, Bagnis will now face Grigor Dimitrov in the second round after the Bulgarian received a bye as the tournament third seed.

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