sport news Andy Murray beats Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6 6-7 7-6 6-3 7-5 trends now
Made of granite but with metal in his hip, Andy Murray put in another staggering performance to reach the third round of the Australian Open.
The 35 year-old Scot completed his second marathon of the week, and the greatest match of his career in terms of physical effort, to beat Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6 6-7 7-6 6-3 7-5 in five and three quarter hours, at 4.05am.
Going where no athletes should be asked to go, the two of them put on an astonishing show, not just of stamina but also of skill. The two embraced at the net after.
Somehow Murray must try and recover to face Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the last 32.
It was bewildering and brilliant and Murray just about held his nerve at the end after a superhuman effort: ‘It was unbelievable that I managed to turn that round, he was serving unbelievably and hitting it huge. I have a big heart,’ said Murray in the understatement of the year. ‘I rely on my love for the game, that’s why I kept going. I’ve always loved competing and worn my heart on my sleeve. I’ve been criticised for it but that’s who I am.’
It is notable that there were no rain delays, unlike on Wednesday. This was merely the consequence of a clogged schedule and the fact that the balls this year are slower, especially when the temperatures are down, making the points longer.
The latest ever finish of 4.34am here in 2008 was never quite under threat, but Jo Konta’s 3.12am ending in 2019 certainly was.
When he went into the fifth set it was exceeding his latest ever finish, in Washington DC 2018. He was also assured of playing his longest ever previous match of five hours, seven minutes, the Davis Cup epic versus Juan Martin Del Potro.
Energy surges came and went for both players and, incredibly, some of the tennis was at its highest level early in the decider as they lifted themselves for the 2,000 or so night owls who stayed to the end.
At 3-3 Murray got to 0-40 on his opponent’s serve, only for Kokkinakis to summon up the strength to save himself by pumping down serves that were still around the 130mph mark.
The Australian moved to
