Andy Murray’s Australian Open preparations suffered an early blow with a first-round loss in a warm-up event

Andy Murray’s hopes of making an Australian Open impact look slimmer after a scratchy performance at Melbourne Park

Former world No.1 Andy Murray lost his first match of the Australian summer. Picture: Getty Images

Five-time Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray was one of the major casualties on an upset-strewn day at Melbourne Park on Tuesday.

Murray arrived in Australia fresh from making the Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition final in Abu Dhabi, but was sluggish in his first-round match in Melbourne.

Facundo Bagnis, a 76th-ranked Argentine, seized the opportunity to cause an upset against the Scottish former world No.1, 6-3 5-7 6-3.

Murray is in Melbourne for the first time since 2019 and received a singles wildcard into this month’s Australian Open.

The 34-year-old showed signs late last year of returning to his old self post-hip surgery, when he defeated top-10 rivals Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner in separate tournaments.

Andy Murray was unable to produce his best tennis in a first-round Melbourne Summer Set defeat to Facundo Bagnis, of Argentina. Picture: AFP

But Murray will now have fewer matches under belt for his Open assault, while Bagnis advances to a clash with third seed Grigor Dimitrov, who had a first-round bye.

Dutchman Botic van de Zandschup also made it to round two at Adrian Mannarino’s expense.

Australian Rinky Hijikata added to the local presence in the main draw when he rallied past Swiss veteran Henri Laaksonen 4-6 7-6(10-8) 6-4.

Hijikata, 20, drew fellow qualifier Maxime Cressy in round one.

In the Melbourne Summer Set Two, Romanian Irena-Camelia Begu came from behind to stun top seed Jessica Pegula 7-6(8-6) 6-3 early in the day, after Pegula served for the first set.

Facundo Bagnis was in control for much of his contest against Andy Murray. Picture: AFP

American seventh seed Ann Li avoided that fate in a 6-2 6-0 demolition of Mayar Sheriff, while young gun Amanda Anisimova battled past Alison van Uytvanck 7-6(7-5) 1-6 7-5.

Anastasija Sevastova and Jasmine Paolini also progressed to the second round.

In the other WTA 250 tournament, Romania’s Gabriela Ruse denied Australia’s Arina Rodionova in a 6-2 6-3 result to join No.1 seed Naomi Osaka in making round two.

Former junior prodigy Destanee Aiava won an all-Australian qualifying contest 6-4 6-4 over 16-year-old Taylah Preston to book a first-round date with second seed Simona Halep.

Originally published as Andy Murray’s Australian Open preparations suffered an early blow with a first-round loss in a warm-up event