Murray Fights Back to Win in Five Sets Down Under

14 Americans are into the Australian Open third round

January 19, 2023 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Andy Murray_3

 

In the early morning hours in Melbourne, Australia, Andy Murray delivered an inexplicable comeback over Thanasi Kokkinakis  to reach the third round of the Australian Open. Murray notched his record 11th comeback from two-sets-to-love-down as he advanced with a 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-2, 7-5 after five hours and 45 minutes.

“It was unbelievable I managed to turn that around,” said Murray. “Thanasi was serving unbelievably and hitting his forehand huge. I don’t know how I managed to get through it. I did start playing better as the match went on, but yeah, I have a big heart. I now am outright the most wins coming from two-sets-to-love down, so I have done it before. I have experience of it. I just rely on that experience and drive. That fight and love for the game and competing and my respect for this event and the competition and that is why I kept going.”

Murray is a five-time Australian Open finalist and had to overcome 102 winners from Kokkinakis, and will now take on 24th seeded Spaniard Roberto Bautista-Agut who completed his own five-set comeback in the second round. Bautista-Agut defeated American Brandon Holt 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Nine-time champion Novak Djokovic won in four sets over French qualifier Enzo Couacaud, and will next face off against 27th seed Grigor Dimitrov.

American Jenson Brooksby upset second-seeded Casper Ruud 6-3, 7-5, 6-7(4), 6-2 and will face off against compatriot Tommy Paul. Brooksby and Paul are two of the 14 Americans, eight men and six women, who have advanced to the third-round in Australia. Michael Mmoh defeated 12th seeded Alexander Zverev in four sets and will play fellow American JJ Wolf next.

Ben Shelton and Katie Volynets were the other Americans who won on Thursday.

 

 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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