Jan. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Fourth-ranked Andy Murray became the highest men’s seed to exit the Australian Open in a five-set loss to No. 14 Fernando Verdasco of Spain.

Scotland’s Murray, who was rated as the favorite by some bookmakers going into the year’s first tennis Grand Slam, lost 2-6, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 in their fourth-round matchup. Murray had won all five of their previous meetings.

It was Murray’s first loss of 2009 after winning two warm-up events this month in which he beat Roger Federer twice and Rafael Nadal once. The 21-year-old was bidding to become the first British male to win a major since 1936.

Verdasco will play fifth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or ninth-seeded James Blake of the U.S. in his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

Last Updated: January 26, 2009 03:03 EST