ANDY MURRAY crashed out of the Australian Open as he was outplayed by Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.

The five-time finalist in Melbourne Park could not find the answers to deal with the world No120.

Daniel, 28, broke in the ninth game of a tense third set and closed it out to secure a 6-4 6-4 6-4 victory.

Murray came into the match knowing a 696th win of his career would take him back into the world's top 100.

Despite sizing up at 6ft 3ins, Daniel cuts a diminutive figure on the court.

But his tennis was anything but diminutive, playing lights-out stuff from the outset – and he kept it going for the full two hours and 48 minutes on court.

The Japanese star is a pure striker of the ball.

And that clean hitting saw him break the Brit in just his second service game that lasted a whopping 13 minutes, sealing it after a 26-shot rally.

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Murray recovered but gifted another break when he doubled faulted for 4-3, and consistent Daniel saw out the first set with an ace.

The qualifier simply refused to miss, making just seven unforced errors in an emphatic opener.

Former world No1 Murray, 34, has gone for a bigger racket this season with a bigger sweet spot.

But as he struggled to find it, Daniel certainly found his, carrying on where he left off with another early break in the second.

That was all he needed, saving all four break points in the set and keeping his composure throughout with 19 winners and seven unforced errors to wrap it up on serve.

Murray, off the back of a four-hour marathon on Tuesday, looked flat and did not help himself with 18 unforced errors in the second.

Even then, few would dare write Murray off completely – especially after he earned an immediate break in the third set.

But Daniel, who beat Novak Djokovic in 2018, got it back on serve and then fended off more break points as both players recognised the significance of the early stages in the third set.

The British battler kept himself in contention but the frustration grew when Daniel's high level refused to falter.

DANIEL KEEPS COOL

And Daniel got the all-important breakthrough at 4-4 in the third.

Finally Murray's frustration boiled over and was given a warning after launching his racket to the ground and shouting out in anger.

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But Daniel was unfazed.

He held his nerve with a smart serve and volley to finish it off, booking his place in a Grand Slam third round for the very first time in his career.

And Daniel fully, fully deserved it.

Speaking on court, the winner said: "It's amazing, winning a match like this in front of so many people. It's unbelievable, thank you.

"It was an amazing level from me. I got a bit nervous in the third set. I tried not to make too big a deal of this match, playing Andy Murray.

"Even if it was against me, I was trying to feel the energy [in the crowd]. I felt goosebumps, it was amazing."

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