ndy Murray recovered from a match point down to produce a performance of old to knock out No13 seed Matteo Berrettini in a contest the remainder of Australian Open will struggle to better.
Murray had been given the toughest of first-round draws against last year’s beaten semi-finalist at Melbourne Park.
But at a venue where tennis had seemingly bade farewell to him four years ago, the 35-year-old had promised a long run having claimed to have worked harder than ever before over the course of the winter.
And for nearly five hours, his previously frail body did not let him down, while his mental fortitude was no less impressive to save a match point when serving at 4-5 down in the final set.
But he saved it when Berrettini limply hit a backhand into the bottom of the net and then Murray won the subsequent super tiebreak for a 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 7-6 victory.
More to follow
