Müller after defeat to Borges: "I have a thigh injury".

Alexandre Müller failed to confirm his good start to the season at the Australian Open.

After winning the title in Hong Kong, the Frenchman, who played five matches there in three sets, declared that he was in pain.

On Monday, he lost to Nuno Borges 6-7, 6-3, 6-2, 7-5. In comments relayed by L'Équipe, he said: "I came up against an opponent who plays very well and with confidence.

It was a good match for both sides. I won the first set feeling like I'd played a borderline perfect set, and it was "only" 7-6.

And I'm thinking to myself that I hope things drop on his side, otherwise it's going to be tough. But he served very well throughout the match.

After my title in Hong Kong, every week is a new week. I'm not going to win all the time, I know that.

But I've got nothing to reproach myself for right now, because I hung in there right to the end. I've got a thigh injury, which didn't bother me for the match, but at rest, when it's cold, it hurts.

For the rest of the tournament, I decided to go on the South American tour for the first time. Clay remains my favourite surface.

And the cuts at the Doha and Dubai tournaments are going to be grotesque. They'll close at around 40th.

There are already seven top-10 players announced for Doha. If we're going to play a tournament and run into Djoko or Sinner in the 1st or 2nd round...".