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Novak Djokovic hilariously mocks Andy Murray for falling EIGHT minutes short of his 5 hours and 53 minutes in the Australian Open final with Rafael Nadal, after the Brit went all-out to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis at 4:05am
- Andy Murray played for a staggering five hours and 45 minutes in the second round
- She beat Thanasi Kokkinakis in straight sets and won at 4:05 am local time.
- Novak Djokovic later joked on Instagram that Murray didn’t beat his record
- He was eight minutes from Djokovic and Nadal’s 2012 Australian Open final
Novak Djokovic dealt a hilarious blow to Andy Murray for falling eight minutes short of the Serb’s five-hour, 53-minute Australian Open final with Rafael Nadal in 2012.
Murray rallied from straight sets to seal an incredible 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5 victory over Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in a second round that didn’t end until 4:05am.
Athletes went back and forth for a staggering five hours and 45 minutes before the 35-year-old Scotsman reached deep inside himself one last time and uncorked a backhand-winning backhand winner that bested the desperate Australian.
Andy Murray rallied from two sets to seal an incredible victory over Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis after five hours and 45 minutes.
Novak Djokovic humorously mocked Murray for falling eight minutes short of his five-hour, 53-minute final with Rafael Nadal in the 2012 Australian Open final.
And after Murray’s sensational win, Djokovic posted an Instagram story praising the Scotsman for his victory.
Along with a picture of Murray celebrating with the 5:45 clock in the background, he wrote: ‘Phenomenal fighting spirit from a great champion! Truly inspiring! Well done mate.’
But just two minutes later, the Serb posted photos of his own grueling battle with Nadal in 2012, resurfacing photos of him in agony along with a photo of him crouching in front of the 5:53 clock.
Djokovic tagged Murray in the post, writing: ‘You just felt 8 minutes short. Sorry mate’, along with a smiley face and muscle emoji.’
Nadal and Djokovic’s Australian Open final remains the longest Grand Slam final of all time, and it was the Serb who triumphed in the end 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-7(5) 7-5 .
The 35-year-old must now bounce back for a third round matchup against No 24 seed Roberto Bautista Agut.
Djokovic has booked himself into the third round this year with a comfortable 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0 against French qualifier Enzo Couacaud.
But after having to leave the court with a hamstring injury, it is unclear how he will manage in the next round when he faces Grigor Dimitrov.
Meanwhile, Murray must now rally for a third round against Roberto Bautista Agut, the No. 24 seed who never gives up an inch.
Speaking after the match, Murray reaffirmed his belief that their second round clash ended too late.
“I don’t know for whom it is beneficial,” he said. ‘It ends in some kind of farce.
“Amazingly, people stayed until the end, and I really appreciate that they did that and created an atmosphere for us at the end.
Djokovic reached the third round with a comfortable 6-1, 6-7, 6-2, 6-0 victory against French qualifier Enzo Couacaud.
‘Obviously some people need to work the next day and everything. If my son was a ball boy in a tournament and got home at five in the morning, as a parent, I would criticize him.
‘It’s not beneficial for them. It is not beneficial for the referees, the officials. I don’t think it’s surprising to the fans. It is not good for the players.
“We talk about it all the time, and it has been talked about for years. But when you start late night games and have conditions like that, these things are going to happen.”