Australian Open 2023: Andy Murray with monster comeback against Thanasi Kokkinakis
Andy Murray is in the third round of the Australian Open 2023 after an incredible willpower. The Scot won just after 4:00 a.m. local time against local hero Thanasi Kokkinakis after being 2-0 down in five hard-fought sets ( Here you can watch the match in re- Read live! ).
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Jan 19, 2023, 06:09 pm
Andy Murray also won a really big five-set fight in round two at the Australian Open 2023. The Scot came out on top against Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday, coming back from a 2-0, 5-2 deficit to finally win at 04:00 local time 4-6, 6-7(4), 7: 6 (5), 6:3 and 7:5. In the round of 32, the former world number one will face Roberto Bautista Agut from Spain.
But first things first. Only section one was really clear in this gripping match. In this game, Kokkinakis managed the first break of the game in the fifth game, which the Australian should certainly transport to the 6: 4 set win. Murray acted less grippy at the start of this match than in his surprising opening victory over Matteo Berrettini - which initially continued in set two. There Kokkinakis had the upper hand again, the 26-year-old managed to break in the ninth game, but this time Murray countered immediately and sent round two into a tie-break a little later.
Kokkinakis too strong in the tiebreak
For Andy Murray, however, the late rebreak only meant a postponement of the inevitable: Because Thanasi Kokkinakis was better in the game for long stretches, served excellently and always knew how to use his powerful forehand profitably. The Australian did that particularly well in the tie-break - the logical consequence: four set balls when the score was 6:2. The 26-year-old was then able to convert number three and took a 2-0 lead.
However, the drama was only just beginning. Because although Thanasi Kokkinakis kept moving towards a three-set success, managed an early break and pulled away to 2-0, Murray knew how to fight back. The Scot showed great defensive qualities and got the rebreak after an incredible point. Kokkinakis was brief, but then took the lead again with a break and 5:2. Again, Murray didn't want to give up - the former world number one sent the match into a tie-break again.
Murray comes back
In this, Andy Murray, who gradually seized the momentum in this match, had the upper hand. The Scot got a set ball when the score was 6: 5 - and then benefited from an unbelievable overhead volley mistake by his opponent. And now Murrray was finally back in the game. The Scot also had to thwart some early break chances in section four, but when the score was 3: 2 the 35-year-old secured the break. Which Murray was able to transport to the sentence equalization after almost exactly four and a half hours.
In this phase, this duel only resembled a battle of attrition, although the match always managed to produce excellent rallies. And it continued to be a razor's edge, it was hard to predict who would get the lucky punch. Murray missed three break opportunities in a row (four in total) when the score was 3: 3, Kokkinakis held his service game and cheered exuberantly. But the Scot relaxed and dared to try again at a score of 5:5.
This time with success. Undeterred by the fact that Kokkinakis was again finding his best serves on break points against himself, the former world no. The decision in this match, a few moments later, the Scot made the five-set success perfect after well over five and a half hours of play. It is one of the most dramatic in Andy Murray's successful career, but in any case it is the longest. A night of history in Melbourne.
You can read the match in re-live here!
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