By Erik Gudris/Thursday, January 16, 2014

 

Juan Martin Del Potro once again tasted early defeat at a Grand Slam as he found himself exiting in the second round of Melbourne.

Photo Credit: Corleve

Though picked by some to go deep at this year's Australian Open, No. 5 seed Juan Martin Del Potro once again finds himself going home earlier than expected.

The Argentine found himself up against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut later in the evening as their match was pushed back due to the enforcement of the extreme heat rule.

Though Del Potro claimed the first set, his opponent battled back to take the second 6-3. Del Potro responded by winning a tight third set 7-5 and looked in control. But it was just the beginning for both men as Bautista Agut leveled the match at two sets all. From there, the Spaniard secured a late service break and soon served for the match at 6-5.

There would be no extra games for Del Potro as Bautista Agut closed out the 4-6, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 victory.

The second round loss for Del Potro is his second in a row at the same stage of a major. Del Potro lost in the same round to Lleyton Hewitt at the US Open last summer.

Next up for Bautista Agut is No. 27 seed Benoit Paire. The Frenchman overcame losing the first two sets to young Australian Nick Kyrgios before winning in a late night thriller 6-7(5), 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2, 6-2.

Earlier in the evening, No. 4 seed Andy Murray reeled off 23 straight points to battle back from a third set deficit of 1-5 against France's Vincent Millot.

Murray closed out the 6-2, 6-2, 7-5 result to set up a third round encounter with No. 26 seed Feliciano Lopez.