Murray stuns Open four years after 'farewell'

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The physically battered but iron-willed Andy Murray had different Rod Laver Arena assemblage successful awe connected Tuesday, marvelling astatine the champion arsenic helium ousted Matteo Berrettini successful the archetypal circular of the Australian Open.

It was 4 years agone that Murray sat down to code reporters pursuing a first-round Australian Open exit and broke down successful tears, gutted astatine the crushing interaction of hep injuries.

He was besides farewelled astatine Melbourne Park with a touching video montage successful 2019, leaving astir reasoning helium would not diagnostic successful different Australian Open.

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The Scot's battles with his hips led to 2 surgeries, including the insertion of a metallic rod, and enactment him connected the brink of retirement.

But astatine the property of 35, helium outlasted Berrettini successful a five-set marathon connected Tuesday, overcoming the tournament's 13th effect and a antheral 9 years younger, winning 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (6) successful 4 hours and 49 minutes.

"I'll beryllium feeling this this evening and tomorrow, but close present I'm conscionable unbelievably happy, precise arrogant of myself," Murray said successful his on-court interview.

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"I've enactment a batch of enactment into the past fewer months with my team, who are here, to springiness maine the accidental to execute (in) stadiums and (in) matches against players similar Matteo, and it paid disconnected tonight."

Murray had fallen to Berrettini successful his erstwhile singles expansive slam match, going down successful 4 sets astatine past year's US Open.

The three-time singles expansive slam champion saved a lucifer constituent successful Tuesday's contest.

He reflected connected contesting his archetypal 10-point tiebreak successful his on-court interview.

"It's a spot different. When you're up 6-1, 7-1 oregon whatever, it feels similar you're inactive rather acold away," said Murray, who clinched the archetypal 5 points of the tiebreak.

"He came backmost truly beardown and I was conscionable a spot fortunate astatine the extremity with the nett cord.

"I deliberation immoderate of the tennis astatine the extremity was truly bully — it felt similar that playing," helium added, eliciting a chorus of cheers.

Murray reflects aft toppling Berrettini

"I don't cognize what it looked like.

"He was serving unbelievable and he's a superb competitor, arsenic well. He's 1 of the champion competitors connected the tour. He ever fights close 'til the end. So, yeah, I did good to get through."

Murray and the game's fans person shared a trove of fond memories astatine Rod Laver Arena.

He competed successful the 2010, 2011 and 2013 Australian Open singles finals, albeit losing each three.

Murray, present ranked 66th successful the world, volition conscionable the victor of Thanasi Kokkinakis and Fabio Fognini successful the 2nd circular of this year's tournament.

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