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Andy Murray is through to the quarter-finals of the Sydney Tennis Classic after knocking out Nikoloz Basilashvili in a three-set epic that went into the early Australian hours of Thursday.
Murray came from a set down to win 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in a tough encounter that lasted over three gruelling hours. The 34-year-old will now face David Goffin next.
Basilashvili got a bye to start this tournament as the No 2 seed and Murray looked to make his opponent work early before he got the break he needed to establish a commanding opening set lead of 5-2.
Andy Murray fought back from a set down to reach the Sydney Tennis Classic quarter-finals
Murray knocked out second seed Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in over three gruelling hours
The former British No 1 was up against one of the more powerful returners in the game and was met with a wall of resistance, losing his break of serve when he was in touching distance of the first set.
Murray unravelled from there and Basilashvili, buoyed by the momentum shift, forced a tiebreak at 6-6, something he dominated to take it 7-4.
Slumped back in his chair Murray looked weary at having given his opponent a leg-up to take the opening set. It was a gruelling encounter of more than an hour for a player that is continuing to defy expectations with his
