Andy Murray: Former champ reveals how Mischa Zverev beat the world No 1

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Andy Murray was stunned by Mischa Zverev in the fourth round of the Australian Open

Andy Murray crashed out of the Australian Open at the fourth round stage on Sunday, losing 7-5, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4 to the unseeded German.

And Cash, who twice reached the Australian Open final and won Wimbledon in 1987, relished watching Zverev reprise the gameplay he himself mastered during his career.

"What serve-volleyers typically do, and what our plan was, was to get into your head," said Cash.

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Andy Murray was frustrated by the serve-volley tactics of Mischa Zverev

"And once you can get into a player's head it makes it really tough.

“Even the simplest passing shot is really tough.

"But I don't think it will come back in a big way.

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Andy Murray was favourite to win the Australian Open after Novak Djokovic crashed out

“There are only about two people who can do it."

Zverev came to the net 118 times during the match, winning 55% of the points there.

His opponent – world No 1 and ranked 49 places above Zverev – produced 44 winners in the first two sets but found it harder and harder to deal with the 29-year-old’s tactics as the match went on.

"It was really impressive to watch," added Cash.

"To see a guy serve-volley on second serve and beat the world No 1, who is allegedly one of the best returners and best passers of all time, and just get knotted up and not even able to hit a passing shot."

And Zverev claims that even having lost the second set, he never lost faith in what he was doing.

“You need to go to the net, get passed for two sets," he said.

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"Like what happened with [John] Isner [in the first round], I lost two sets.

"I was still trying to stick to the same game plan.

“It kind of changes in the end.

“If it doesn't, then you just walk off the court, you say, 'Well done, you passed me too well'."

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