Tennis-Murray finds spark before long-awaited return to Melbourne Park

Tennis - ATP 250 - Melbourne Summer Set - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 4, 2022 Britain's Andy Murray in action during his round of 32 match against Argentina's Facundo Bagnis REUTERS/Loren Elliott

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Tears, pain and a defiant five-set loss marked Andy Murray's last appearance at the Australian Open but the Scot will stroll Melbourne Park's grounds with a positive outlook for the first time in three years.

On Sunday, Murray played his first ATP final since Antwerp in 2019. Although he lost in straight sets to Russian bruiser Aslan Karatsev at the Sydney Tennis Classic, it was an encouraging start to the year for the Briton.