If this was the end then Andy Murray left the Australian Open with some glorious, heroic reminders of why he was once, fairly briefly, the best player in the world.
There was the competitive spirit, the chuntering, the wonderful shots, piercing returns and examples of marvellous defensive play. And at the end there was emotion, the 31 year-old Scot humbled by the support of the host nation.
But ultimately the sustained quality to overcome someone of Roberto Bautista Agut’s calibre was not quite there, and he went down 6-4, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 6-2 before leaving the Melbourne Arena as he had arrived, to a thunderous ovation from a predominantly Australian crowd.
Andy Murray sighs after losing a point during his Australian Open first-round match against Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut
This could well be the end for Murray, who has been hampered by an ongoing hip injury over the last year and beyond
The British tennis legend was clearly struggling with his long-term hip injury as he battled through the match in Melbourne
Murray stretches to reach a forehand, and there were glimpses of the former world No 1 at his best at stages of the match
Bautista Agut had never taken a set off Murray before their first round match at this year's Australian Open on Monday
There were times in the third set, particularly after breaking back to go 3-2 up, that Murray showed shades of his peak ability
Against the world number 24 this was more than perfectly respectable, it was often brilliant, but it was beyond the 31 year-old Scot can no longer mount the kind of sustained challenge that saw him reach five finals at this venue.
He can still hit theball with precision and superb timing, and there were times – such as when he broke back for 2-2 in the third set with a stunning backhand to first gain some serious momentum and ignite the contest– when he could bring the crowd to its feet.
Playing like this, Murray could beat at least two thirds of the field here. No wonder he does not want to quit when everything still functions so well apart from the blasted hip, its effects in this match deadened by painkillers and adrenaline.
What a stunning contrast to the forlorn figure he cut last Thursday, when his drubbing in practice by Novak Djokovic reduced him to despair. His subsequent tearful press conference appears to have been cathartic.
That will not dull the immediate pain of defeat, however, as such a ferocious competitor will know he could have finished the job off. At 0-1 and 0-30 down in the decider Bautista Agut was unravelling, but a series of marginal errors let him back in.
What the match will tell him upon sober reflection is that he is still capable of overcoming high class opponents, should he wish to preserve.
The Brit takes the applause of the crowd after winning a hard-fought and emotional point in the third set of the match
There was still plenty of life left in Murray as he won back-to-back tie-breaks to take the match to a fifth and final set
Murray bites his fist in frustration after missing a return deep into the third set of his first-round defeat by Bautista Agut
Murray grimaces during the match, which he has previously admitted could well be his last due to ongoing injury problems
Murray's brother Jamie and mum Judy were both front and centre to watch what could turn out to be his last ever match
As darkness fell over Melbourne, the crowd was at capacity to watch Murray and Bautista battle it out at the Australian Open
Murray had walked out onto one of his favourite courts, the Melbourne Arena (number three at this venue), to the kind of reception rarely awarded to sportsmen from the UK in Australia.
Among those watching were his mother Judy, Davis Cup Captain Leon Smith and his ex coach and close friend Dani Vallverdu. Unusually, they were joined after five games by brother Jamie, who is a rare sight in his supporters’ box.
Murray had said he would ingest some painkillers for this match and, whatever it was, he looked sprightly enough in the early exchanges, as well as hitting serves of nearly 130 mph.
For Bautista Agut it was always going to be an awkward task, especially with nobody supporting him, but he was soon sticking by his trusted method of hitting the ball flat and hard. It was good enough to bring him the ATP Qatar title nine days ago and he has been in his best form.
The Brit takes a moment of rest against the advertising boards after sprinting to reach a return against his Spanish opponent
