Tuesday's result marked just his second five-set loss in nine efforts and his first loss in the earliest stage of a major since AO 2019. The silver lining, he said, is that he's proved to himself he's ready for five-set battles after struggling with injuries last year.ĭefending points from a run to the AO 2022 semifinal, the Rome-born right-hander is set to tumble in the ranks. It's just tennis," said a pragmatic Berrettini. "Last year I won 7-6 in the fifth, this year I lost 7-6 in the fifth. MORE: AO 2023 men's singles draw What's next for Berrettini? "I wouldn't expect myself to feel perfect on Thursday, but hopefully I'll be in a good place." Murray now assumes the 13th seed's place in the draw, and faces either Thanasi Kokkinakis or Fabio Fognini in the second round.Īfter four hours and 49 minutes on court, the veteran will need to focus on recovery to ensure he's fresh. ![]() There's certainly a lot of people questioned me and my ability, whether I could still perform at the biggest events and the biggest matches." "I've certainly questioned myself at times. "I made a couple of tweaks right at the end of the fifth set, maybe I could have done that sooner to get a few more returns back in play." What this means for Murrayįollowing the win, the 35-year-old can silence doubts in his own mind and those of often outspoken critics. But the 26-year-old Italian isn't one to fade without a fight – he levelled up with well-placed groundstrokes, and snared two breaks and the third set. The only time Murray, a father of four, has lost a Grand Slam match from a two-sets-to-love lead was almost a generation of tennis players ago, at Wimbledon 2005. The second set unfolded much like the first, with the former world No.1 scoring breaks in both the opening and closing games. The 35-year-old Scotsman seized a break chance in the second game, and the master of defence carried the advantage to close out the set, urged on by coach and two-time champion Ivan Lendl. Just before Murray and Berrettini took to court, the Australian Open heat-stress scale clicked to five, sparking the closure of Rod Laver Arena's roof. In fact, the Italian has stormed to the final eight of the last five majors he'd contested and hadn't been upset by a player outside the top 50 at a Grand Slam since a surprise three-set rout by Daniel Altmaier, then world number 186, at Roland Garros 2016. When he's the favourite, Berrettini rarely misses a beat. But could the popular Scot, metal hip and all, avenge a disappointing four-set loss to Berrettini in New York last September? The three-time Grand Slam champion has spent six years hunting for a top 20 scalp with unwavering belief in his ability to compete against the best. ![]() MORE: All the scores from Day 2 at AO 2023 Berrettini, fresh off United Cup upsets over Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz, has form that Murray, bounced out of the first round of the Adelaide International, has been searching for. It was, at times, uncomfortable to watch, and as the results struggled to follow it was fair to wonder if it was all worth it.We've been counting down the minutes to this tantalising first-round collision since the main draw dropped. There had been several admirable efforts in the years since his hip resurfacing surgery, all typified by heart and character but accompanied by grimaces and hobbles, shuffled movement between points and pained expressions. ![]() When Murray arrived at the Australian Open, more than 2,000 days had passed since his last win over a top-20 opponent at a grand slam, in what was a 2017 French Open quarter-final victory against Kei Nishikori. ![]() The astonishing drama of his battle with Berrettini may have been staged over almost five hours, but this was a victory of perseverance built over a much longer time, created away from the spotlight where for so long there had only been frustration at the parts of his game that were not clicking together. In a staggering five-set win over Matteo Berrettini and at the age of 35, Murray produced his best performance and physical display at this level in half a decade. Andy Murray talked a big game before the Australian Open, insisting he was ready to take on a top player in the opening stages of a grand slam, and then he lived up to his word.
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