Andy Murray is a five-time runner-up at the Australian OpenDates: 17-30 January Venue: Melbourne ParkCoverage: Daily radio commentaries on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app, with selected live text commentaries online; TV highlights from middle Saturday.Britain's former world number one Andy Murray produced a subdued display as he was beaten by Japan's Taro Daniel in the Australian Open second round.
Murray lost 6-4 6-4 6-4 to qualifier Daniel - ranked below him at 120 in the world - on John Cain Arena.
It was a far cry from his performance in Tuesday's victory over Georgian 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, who the Scot beat in a gruelling five-set win.
Murray's defeat means Dan Evans is the final Briton left in the men's singles.
Murray had never previously lost a Grand Slam match to an opponent ranked as low as 28-year-old Daniel.
For Daniel, victory meant he reached the third round of a major for the first time in his career.
Murray shot a disconsolate look towards his box after Daniel clinched victory with a crisp backhand volley on his first match point.
The three-time Grand Slam champion walked off court shaking his head before giving a quick thumbs up to a crowd glad to see him back at Melbourne Park and appreciative of his efforts.
"Winning a big match like this is unbelievable," said Daniel.
"It was an amazing level from me, I was getting nervous in the third set.
"I tried not to make a big deal about this - everyone said I was playing Murray - but I tried to treat it like another match."
Murray unable to extend Melbourne return
The point Murray has fought back to borders on a miracle, resurrecting his career after a hip surgery that he initially feared would bring his playing days to an end.
The victory against Basilashvili was particularly poignant as it came on the same Melbourne court where, in 2019, he thought he might have played his final match.
Since then, the former Wimbledon and US Open champion has returned to the sport with a metal hip and even won an ATP title.
Last week Murray was denied another trophy, losing in the Sydney final, and came to Melbourne with the target of making a deeper run in a Grand Slam tournament.
At face value, Daniel appeared to be someone of the ranking and pedigree that Murray should be able to beat.
But in reality he faced a sharp opponent brimming with confidence after coming through qualifying and the first round without dropping a set.
In contrast, Murray appeared to lack energy virtually from the start.
After losing serve in a 12-minute third game, he broke back for 3-3 but then produced a double fault as Daniel instantly regained a lead that allowed him to serve out the first set.
Murray made 16 unforced errors in the opening set compared to only six from his opponent.
The Japanese player maintained his level in the second set, although had to see off four break points to hold for 1-1, and broke serve again in the third game.
Murray never looked like retrieving it, winning only two more points on return as Daniel moved within one more set of the most notable win of his career.
However nerves started to emerge for Daniel and he gifted his opponent a break in the second game of the third set with a double fault.
Finally it brought out more emotion from Murray, who gave a gentle shake of the racquet to his box. But he then made the same mistake to allow Daniel to put the set back on serve.
The crowd tried their best to gee up Murray but it proved fruitless as he lost the final three games to end his brief return to Melbourne with a whimper.
