Andy Murray: Early setback for Brit in 2023 as Sebastian Korda wins in straight sets in Adelaide

Published 03/01/2023 at 11:53 GMT

It was far from the perfect start for Andy Murray to 2023 as he was unable to show his best form in his defeat to Sebastian Korda. Murray is beginning a crucial season that will tell him much about whether he can once again challenge right at the top of the game. But in his first outing of 2023, Korda proved too strong. Stream the 2023 Australian Open live on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

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Andy Murray lost in straight sets to Sebastian Korda at the Adelaide International 1, 7-6 6-3, to get his 2023 off to the worst possible start.

Murray, fresh from playing in the Battle of the Brits in Aberdeen before Christmas, was making his first appearance on Australian soil since travelling Down Under.

And early on, Murray looked to have no problems acclimatising to the conditions as he held in the first game and then pushed Korda on his subsequent service games, to the extent that the Briton had two - ultimately missed - break points in game six with the score 3-3.

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Korda recovered from that close call to break Murray in the next game to go 4-3 ahead, only for Murray to roar back and level it back up again at 4-4.

The pair were looking a good match for each other, and it was perhaps no surprise that a tie-break was the only way to decide the opener.

Regrettably for Murray, his form deserted him at just the wrong time, slumping to a 5-1 deficit that he never recovered from, Korda wrapping up the breaker 7-3.

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Andy Murray of Great Britain competes against Sebastian Korda of the USA during day three of the 2023 Adelaide International at Memorial Drive on January 03, 2023 in Adelaide, Australia.

Image credit: Getty Images

Things went on serve as set two got underway, but Murray was getting fewer looks on the Korda serve as the American youngster seemed to be growing in confidence, and rhythm.

Murray hit trouble on his own serve at 2-3 down, getting broken to 15 as the match suddenly looked to be slipping away from the 35-year-old.

Murray did bring up a break-back point in the next game as he showed some of his typical fight, but Korda held on and then served out his next service game to love to secure his win.

Also in action in Adelaide was Murray's fellow Brit, Kyle Edmund, who is slowly making his way back on the tour following a serious knee injury.

Edmund, however, couldn't get his 2023 off to a winning start, losing 6-3 6-2 to Italy's Jannik Sinner.

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