Jamie Murray’s campaign for a first-ever Australian Open mixed doubles title got off to an effortless start as his first-round match was done and dusted in just 25 minutes.
Alongside partner Bethanie Mattek-Sands, the six-time Grand Slam champion – twice a mixed doubles champion at both Wimbledon and the US Open – pitted their wits against Oliver Marach and Mihaela Buzarnescu in Melbourne.
However, Austria’s Marach soon struggled with a foot injury and he and Buzarnescu were forced to retire as they trailed 4-1 during the first set.
That sends Murray and his American teammate through to a second-round meeting with Sweden’s Robert Lindstedt and France’s Kristina Mladenovic – the 32-year-old is also in the third round of the men’s doubles.
Meanwhile, fellow British competitor Neal Skupski joined Murray in tasting first-round success.
The 29-year-old Liverpudlian and partner Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez humbled Franko Skugor and Katarina Srebotnik in straight sets, winning 6-3 6-3.
They will take on Australian pairing Andrew Whittington and Jessica Moore in the second round.
However, there wasn’t such good news for Dom Inglot and his teammate Johanna Larsson, who were beaten 6-2 6-2 by Murray’s second-round opposition Lindstedt and Mladenovic. Sportsbeat 2019