Andy Murray staged an epic comeback to rally from two sets down and beat home favourite Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5 in the second round of Australian Open.
The match finished 4:05 am, just two hours from daybreak in Melbourne.
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Murray withstood 102 winners, including 37 aces, from Kokkinakis in the five hour 45 minute contest, the longest match of his career.
Have you ever seen anything like that?@wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/PSIXFMIFcl
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023
“It was unbelievable I managed to turn that around,” said Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist.
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“Thanasi was serving unbelievably and hitting his forehand huge. I don’t know how I managed to get through it. I did start playing better as the match went on, but yeah, I have a big heart.”
With a lively Australian crowd watching, Murray demonstrated his mental and physical strength for the second time this week, having edged Matteo Berrettini in a four-hour, 52-minute five-set thriller in the first round.
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The Scot battled back from 2-5 in the third set to earn the 11th win of his career from two-sets-to-love down, more than any other active player.
ANDY. MURRAY. 🤯
Madness in Melbourne!@andy_murray • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/NaHx1FkJnu
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023
It is also the first time Murray has reached the third round in Melbourne since 2017.
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Murray has produced some of his best tennis at the hard-court major, reaching the final five times.
The 35-year-old, who holds a 51-14 record in Melbourne, has not advanced to the fourth round at a major since 2017, when he reached the quarter-finals at Wimbledon.
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He next plays Roberto Bautista Agut after the Spaniard also rallied from two sets down to defeat American wild card Brandon Holt 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.
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