Australian Open: Bautista Agut vs Murray Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Australian Open as Roberto Bautista Agut takes on Andy Murray in the third round on Saturday, January 21, 2023.

Will Roberto Bautista Agut get the win? Will Andy Murray pull off the upset? This will be a fascinating one, where we have a rematch of what was Murray’s original retirement match 4 years ago. Can Murray exact his revenge? Who will triumph and move through to the Round of 16 at the 2023 Australian Open?

Roberto Bautista Agut had to fight back from 2 sets down against Brandon Holt in what was a classic shift of the player holding a 2 set lead collapsing mentally and allowing their opponent back into the match. Bautista Agut likes these fast conditions, and I do worry for Andy Murray here, but with the dips in level RBA showed, you never know exactly what can happen. Let’s see if the Spaniard can stay tough and get through a tough match to move through here at the 2023 Australian Open.

Andy Murray, what incredible things we can say about his run to the third round. Two extraordinary 5 setters in a row, taking out Matteo Berrettini and coming back from 2 sets to love down in the longest match of Andy Murray’s career. We can praise him for this run forever, but looking ahead to his next chances, I really think it completely depends on Murray’s fitness after such draining matches. I personally don’t have faith that Murray could possibly be at 100%, but I do think he has what it takes to dig this one out as he looks to produce a fourth round at the 2023 Australian Open.

Roberto Bautista Agut and Andy Murray have met six times before, with the head to head being tied at 3-3. Murray won their first 3 meetings rather easily, but that was of course in his prime. He’s lost their last 3, including that epic 5 setter which was said to be Murray’s last match, so it’s almost destiny for them to meet again here for a place in the fourth round. RBA did win their last two matches with extreme ease, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a win from the Spaniard, but ultimately I must respect the tennis that Murray has played, and with the shaky play Bautista Agut showed in his 2nd round match, I think the legendary Andy Murray can dare to believe and give us another miracle as he looks to book his place in the last 16 of the 2023 Australian Open.