Berrettini stunned by Veteran Murray in five sets at the Australian Open
Andy Murray defeated Matteo Berrettini (13th seed) from Italy on Tuesday. This saved a match point that would have allowed Murray to win five hard sets and secure a place in the Australian Open’s second round.
After suffering from major hip and abdominal injuries over half a century, the three-time Grand Slam champion is now free from pain and fully recovered to be ready for the tournament.
His famed grit was evident in his victory over the Italian 6-3. 4-6. 6-7. 6-7 (7/9), 6-7. 6-7 (10/6) in just 4 hours 49mins. The closed roof on Rod Laver Arena in Rod Laver Arena was due to extreme heat.
The win was huge for Briton, who is now ranked at 66 and knocked out the semi-finalist last year for a historic 50th match-win at season-opening Grand Slam.
Murray, five-time Melbourne Park runner up, stated, “I’ll still be feeling this tonight and tomorrow. But right now, I’m unbelievably proud of myself.”
“I have put a lot of effort into the past few months with my teammates to allow me to perform in stadiums such as this, in matches such as this, and against players like Matteo. It paid off tonight.”
Murray won the Grand Slam for the first time since beating ninth-ranked Kei Nishori in the quarter-finals at the 2017 French Open.
Victory also won his 50th Australian Open match-win. He is the fifth man in Open Era history to do this feat, joining Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Stefan Edberg.
He stated, “I thought some of that tennis at the final was really good. It felt like that playing.”
“He is a brilliant competitor, one among the best on the tour, he always fights till the end, and I did well getting through.”
Murray, who was coach by Ivan Lendl (who won the Melbourne Park title 1989 and 1990), broke twice in the first set. He also broke twice twice in the second. Murray struggled on his second serve and made a number of unforced mistakes.
Berrettini rallied and won the third set. With a break, he moved 3-2 ahead. Six aces helped him to win the fourth set.
Nothing could separate them, and it was a match that went to a tiebreak. Murray sent a forehand long and the Italian won the third set point.
Berrettini earned a match point 5-4 in the fifth, but netted an easy half-volley to waste the opportunity and it again went to a tiebreak where an early break for Murray gave him the edge and he clung on.
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