A classic Andy Murray weathered a gallant fightback from Matteo Berrettini earlier than dumping the thirteenth seeded Italian out of the Australian Open first spherical with an epic 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (10-6), win on Tuesday.
With the group largely within the palm of his hand, the 35-year-old raced out of the blocks to take the primary two units underneath the roof of a muggy Rod Laver Area.
A five-time runner-up within the event, little has come simple for Murray at Melbourne Park, and so it proved once more as Berrettini emerged from a protracted off-court break between units dialled-in to degree the match.
Murray’s dedication by no means wavered, although, and he held his nerve within the deciding 10-point tiebreak, closing out the match with unimaginable fortune as his bunted forehand return caught the web and left Berrettini no likelihood.
“I will be feeling this this night and tomorrow however proper now I am simply unbelievably comfortable, simply pleased with myself,” Murray stated on courtroom after the four-hour 49-minute slog.
“I put plenty of work into the previous few months with my workforce who’re right here to present me the chance to carry out in stadiums like this … and it paid off tonight.”
Murray will play the winner of Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis and Italian veteran Fabio Fognini for a spot within the third spherical.
British No. 2 Dan Evans additionally progressed in Melbourne after beating Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis.
Twenty-fifth seed Evans, gained 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, in a first-round match that was delayed for 3 hours due to excessive warmth.
Evans and Murray’s victories imply that 4 Briton’s transfer to the second spherical after Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie gained on Monday.