Former World No.1 Murray ecstatic after edging out 21st seed Basilashvili in thrilling five-set opener; says he has put in a lot of work since his hip surgery
Andy Murray after his victory over Nikoloz Basilashvili in Round One of the Australian Open at Melbourne yesterday. Pic/AP; PTI
Andy Murray said that the injury hell which nearly forced him into retirement now seemed worth all the pain after battling to his first win at the Australian Open since 2017 on Tuesday.
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The three-time Grand Slam champion, playing with a metal hip following career-saving surgery in 2019, heroically emerged victorious from five epic sets against 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili.
Murray, 34, wrestled with the big-hitting Georgian for almost four hours before claiming his place in the second round, where he will face Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel.
Spirited effort
Scotland’s Murray, ranked 113 showed his trademark fighting spirit to edge home in the gripping final set and clinch a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 victory. It was his first match at the Australian Open since 2019, when he went out in the first round. He made a tearful exit and it was thought that it might be his farewell. He had surgery on his hip weeks later, his career at stake.
“I think winning matches like today and competing against guys that are around 20-25 in the rankings, yeah, I’m proud of that,” Murray, a former World No.1, said. “It’s not easy. I put a lot of work and effort in. Even since the operation I’ve had various issues as well. Kept going and, yeah, days like today make it worthwhile.”
Of his return to the court that conjured painful memories of his last tilt at the Australian Open, Murray added: “I don’t think much about what happened three years ago. I know you’d probably like me to say something different, but that’s the truth.”
From COVID to court for Nick
Meanwhile, Nick Kyrgios put behind 17 hours a day in bed with COVID to set up a blockbuster second-round showdown with tournament favourite Daniil Medvedev.
The unpredictable Australian breezed through a straight-sets win over Britain’s Liam Broady 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Medvedev negotiated a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 win over Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen on Rod Laver Arena.
Earlier, Stefanos Tsitsipas eased past practice partner Mikael Ymer into the second round. The World No.4 always had the measure of the 86th ranked Swede, polishing off a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win.
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