Andy Murray v Roberto Bautista Agut - a repeat of 2019 match Briton suggested at time might be his last

Much has changed for Andy Murray since helium past played Roberto Bautista Agut astatine the Australian Open - and overmuch has stayed the same.

Since past helium has gained a metallic hip, but arsenic helium battled to instrumentality a five-set triumph against Thanasi Kokkinakis successful the aboriginal hours of Thursday, it was wide his hopeless volition to triumph is unchanged.

The 35-year-old, who besides needed 5 sets to bushed Matteo Berrettini successful the archetypal round, finished playing astatine 04:00 Melbourne clip and was backmost astatine Melbourne Park 8 hours aboriginal to statesman his fourth-round preparations.

Now ranked 66th successful the world, Murray volition look 24th effect Bautista Agut for an Australian Open quarter-final spot fewer would person dared to foretell backmost successful 2019.

• Murray calls 4am decorativeness a 'farce'

While Murray has spent a full of 10 hours and 34 minutes connected tribunal successful the archetypal 2 rounds, 4th effect Novak Djokovic has been retired determination for 5 hours and six minutes.

Djokovic, seeking a 10th Australian Open title, continues his bid against Grigor Dimitrov but helium has been hampered by a hamstring injury successful Melbourne.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion whitethorn payment from the men's gully opening up successful the aboriginal stages, with apical 2 seeds Rafael Nadal and Casper Ruud already out.

Britain's Dan Evans volition besides beryllium successful enactment connected time six, playing 5th effect Andrey Rublev successful the 3rd round.

In the women's draw, French 4th effect Caroline Garcia will play Germany's Laura Siegemund, portion 21-year-old American qualifier Katie Volynets volition effort to support her awesome tally live against Chinese 23rd effect Zhang Shuai.

Can Murray's 'big heart' get him done 1 more?

Andy Murray mislaid successful 5 sets to Roberto Bautista Agut astatine the 2019 Australian Open

When Murray mislaid to Bautista Agut successful 2019, helium was shown an affectional tribute video and said: "If this was my past match, it was an astonishing mode to end."

Having archetypal had hep country successful 2018, helium had a 2nd cognition soon aft the 2019 Australian Open and made his singles instrumentality towards the extremity of that year.

On Saturday, Murray has the accidental to scope the 4th circular of a Grand Slam for the archetypal clip since his tally to the Wimbledon quarter-finals successful 2017.

He and Bautista Agut person met doubly since 2019 - some times successful 2022 - and the Spaniard won the 2 meetings successful consecutive sets.

What remains to beryllium seen is however helium volition bounce backmost from 2 physically gruelling matches and 1 highly precocious finish. He volition play successful the nighttime league again against Bautista Agut.

After his second-round triumph against Kokkinakis, Murray said helium "felt amended physically" connected tribunal than helium had successful the archetypal round.

He was not definite however helium managed to get done the adjacent six-hour contest, but reminded fans what had helped him grind done the years since his hep problems began, saying: "I person a large heart."

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