Every tennis player knows it can happen. You win a title, you are full of confidence, hitting the ball well, and feeling great – and then comes the next week, the next tournament – and you find yourself booking a plane ticket back home after the first round.

Andy Murray now certainly knows the feeling. After a great week and a title in Qatar for a great start to 2008, he found himself quickly on his way to the tournaments office to pick up his prize money at the Australian Open sooner than he or anybody else expected.

Murray lost to Frenchman Jo Wilfred Tsonga, playing his first ever Australian Open and ranked at his best today – 38th in the world. Murray, no doubt, will want to erase the first Grand Slam of 2008 from his memory as soon as possible.

'Murray, no doubt, will want to erase the first Grand Slam of 2008 from his memory as soon as possible'


Not much divided between the two players. Murray won more points during the match (137) than his opponent (135) – and still lost! Only in tennis can something like that happen!!

Murray was unlucky with the draw. Tsonga is a very tough first round opponent, especially in a Grand Slam where every underdog knows he can "have his day" in the first round – especially against a nervous seeded player.

And that is exactly what happened. Tsonga, an attacking player, was all over the Scot ranked No.9 this year Down Under, and when it mattered, he didn't hesitate to come to the net and take the initiative.

It will be interesting to see how Tsonga will do in the next round or rounds. And Murray? His inconsistency, day in and day out, was, and remains, his biggest enemy.