20 Jan 2009

Murray through to second round after Romanian quits

5:41 pm on 20 January 2009

Scottish star Andy Murray is through to the second round of the Australian Open after his first opponent retired midway through the second set with a back injury.

The fourth-seeded Murray was leading Andrei Pavel 6-2, 3-1 when the Romanian called it quits.

Murray, one of the early title favourites following a series of wins over Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal already this season, will next play either Russian Teimuraz Gabashvili or Spain's Marcel Granollers on Thursday for a place in the last 32.