Andy Murray beats Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6 6-7 7-6 6-3 7-5
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Made of granite but with metal at the hip, Andy Murray put in another jaw-dropping performance to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The 35-year-old Scotsman completed his second marathon of the week, and the biggest game of his career in terms of physical exertion, beating Thanasi 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 Kokkinakis at five and three quarter hours, at 4.05.
Going where no athlete should be asked to go, the two put on an amazing show, not only of stamina but also of skill. The two hugged in the net afterwards.
Andy Murray emerged from the wreckage of a remarkable five-hour epic at 4:05am in Melbourne
Somehow, Murray must try to bounce back to face Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut in the last 32.
It was unnerving and brilliant and Murray almost got his nerves under control at the end after a superhuman effort: “It was amazing that I managed to turn it around, he was serving unbelievably and hitting huge.” I have a big heart,” Murray said in the understatement of the year. ‘I am confident in my love for the game, which is why I kept going. I have always loved racing and have worn my heart on my sleeve. I’ve been criticized for it, but that’s who I am.
Notably, there were no rain delays, unlike on Wednesday. This was simply the consequence of a clogged schedule and the fact that the balls this year are slower, especially when the temperatures drop, making for longer points.
Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis led by two sets to nil and seemed to be cruising to victory.
Murray seemed to be struggling early on to keep up with his significantly younger opponent.
The most recent 4:34am finish here in 2008 was never under threat, but Jo Konta’s 3:12am finish in 2019 certainly was.
As he entered the fifth set, he was moving on from his last result, in Washington DC 2018. He was also confident of playing his longest previous match at five hours and seven minutes, the Davis Cup epic against Juan Martin Del Potro.
Surges of energy came and went for both players and, unbelievably, some of the tennis was at its highest level early in the decider as they rose for the 2,000 or so night owls who stayed until the end.
At times he seemed heartbroken between changes as he struggled to stay in the game.
At 3-3, Murray got to 0-40 on his opponent’s serve, only for Kokkinakis mustering the strength to save himself by powering in serves that were still around the 130mph mark.
The Aussie moved to 5-4 and reached deuce, aided by a haphazard netcord. Still, Murray held it off and then created three break points, which were answered with big serves before a bizarre forehand. The lack of bugs under the extenuating circumstances was unmundane.
Finally, on fourth break point, the two-time Wimbledon champion found an inside-out forehand that sliced across the court past Kokkinakis, allowing him to serve as the clock read 4 a.m.
The match was decided by exchanges that Murray was finally able to defend well before pounced.
Kokkinakis made a fool of his falsely deflated 159 in qualifying, because he’s so much better than that with his ground-hitting sweet ball and booming serve.
Injuries have stunted the career of someone who beat Roger Federer at 21, and who possesses a massive artillery that was able to penetrate the court in the cold night air.
However, it will be a huge frustration that a big step forward for Murray has been followed by an immediate setback, wiping out some of the gains from the massive first-round effort.
It didn’t always improve his mood to have it all played out before a raucous, well-refreshed crowd at Margaret Court Arena.
Murray suffered against a massive forehand from Kokkinakis, the best friend and doubles partner of Nick Kyrgios, with whom he has a lot in common, except when it comes to stamina.
The Brit rolled back the years to produce a tennis masterclass in never giving up in the early hours.
Both players showed frustration at points, both apparently baffled at how the match had been allowed to drag on for so long.
Kokkinakis came to regret a series of missed opportunities when he criminally allowed Murray to return.
Kokkinakis was much sharper in the first set and, with Murray struggling to neutralize his forehand, clinched the tiebreaker as midnight had come and gone.
Still, Murray held on and leveled early in the third set when he played one of the best points of his career, sending out four defensive lobs that ultimately led to an error from the increasingly agitated Australian.
He served for the match at 5-3 but, in sight of the winning post, he squeezed and broke comfortably.
When the second tie-break came, Kokkinakis was within two points of the match, but at 5-6 he made an embarrassing header to send it into the fourth at 1:49 am with three hours and 29 minutes left.
Murray’s strategy now was to attack the net a lot more, and his success rate when moving was above 80%. He moved to 5-2, but was threatened when Kokkinakis caught a fourth or fifth wind.
They put their differences aside in the match when the two heartbroken men embraced at the end of the epic.
She nearly delayed the late challenge to close it out and then took it out on referee Eva Asderaki Moore that she had used up her two toilet break allowances.
“I respect the rules, but it’s disrespectful to us that the tournament keeps us out until 3 am and doesn’t even allow us to go pee, you know that’s a joke,” Murray said.
For too long, this tournament schedule has pushed too much of everyone involved, but it presents an extraordinary human drama.