Andy Murray out of Australian Open

Andy Murray has crashed out of the Australian Open after losing in four sets to Mischa Zverev in the fourth round in Melbourne.

The world number one was sunk by the German world number 50 7-5 5-7 6-2 6-4 at the Rod Laver Arena, dropping serve a remarkable eight times and was his lowest-ranked opponent to be eliminated by at a grand slam since at the same event 11 years ago.

The defeat is a huge blow to the Scot who had hoped of going when one better than his five previous final defeats at the tournament, particularly after six-time champion Novak Djokovic was dumped out by Denis Istomin earlier in the week.

Everything seemed set to go to plan as the 29-year-old established a 4-1 lead, but Zverev got the break back with a return winner and eventually got a decisive break in game eleven before closing out the set on serve.

Murray fought back to level the match by taking the second set also 7-5 but the decisive moment of the evening came when Zverev claimed five games on the spin to take the third set and break early in the fourth.

The underdog then held on to close out an unlikely victory.

"He deserved to win because he played great when he was down, and also in the important moments," said Murray.

"I was kind of behind in the last couple of sets the whole way but I have had tough losses in the past and I have come back from them."

Zverev meanwhile was understandably delighted.

"It was kind of easy to stay aggressive but it was tough to stay calm," said the 29-year-old, who had fallen outside the top 1,000 in the world just two years ago after a series of injuries.

"I was expecting to maybe double fault in the last game but somehow I made it."

Zverev will now face Roger Federer or Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals.

Britain's Dan Evans joined Murray in heading out as his run was ended by a 6-7 (4-7) 6-2 6-4 6-4 loss to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

The world number 51, who knocked out Marin Cilic and Bernard Tomic on his way to the last 16 took the first set to hint at another upset.

But former finalist Tsonga upped his display and his power game saw him reel off the next three sets to set up a quarter-final meeting with 2014 winner Stan Wawrinka.

Photo: Getty/Clive Brunskill

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