Murray completes resurrection with five-set thrill ride
Three years after retirement suggestions, former world No.1 battles past Basilashvili in Melbourne
ANDY MURRAY focused on the future not the past after returning to the court where he was virtually retired three years ago for another epic Australian Open encounter.
The great and the good of tennis were hastily gathered together to make a tribute video for Murray in 2019 after he tearfully laid bare the extent of his hip problems on the eve of the tournament and announced he was considering retiring.
But, even as the video was playing, Murray, who had somehow defied the pain to push Roberto Bautista
Agut to five sets in a raucous atmosphere, was looking ahead to his imminent resurfacing operation and the hope that he might be able to come back.
Comparisons were inescapable as he again found himself in a five-set battle, this time with 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili, but optimism has been growing that Murray can write a very different ending to his story and he battled to a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, victory.
Asked whether it had brought back memories, Murray said: “I would like to say that there was loads, but that wasn’t the case. I practised on it a couple of times when I arrived in Australia. And it felt like it always felt on that court.
“I’ve put in a lot of work to get back here. I have played on this court many times and the atmosphere is incredible.
“This is where I thought I had potentially played my last match three years ago but it is amazing to be back, winning a five-set battle like that. I could not ask for any more.”
Murray, for whom this was a first victory in Melbourne in five years, went into the match on the back of a run to his first ATP
Tour final for more than two years, with his scalps including big-hitting Georgian Basilashvili in a three-hour tussle.
Melbourne Park’s third court has been the scene of many Murray scraps over the years.
Initially this looked like it might not be one as Basilashvili struggled to find the court and Murray, with little effort required, raced to the first set in a little over 20 minutes.
Basilashvili, who Murray also defeated at Wimbledon last year despite a dramatic thirdset collapse, mis-hit one serve so badly that it flew high into the stands without bouncing.
But Basilashvili is a man committed to the game plan of hitting the ball as hard as possible at every opportunity.
The third set was a one-act melodrama featuring searing winners, errant smashes, wild errors and an awful lot of Murray scampering around well behind the baseline trying to force Basilashvili to self-destruct. The fourth followed a similar
pattern, although this time with Basilashvili winning, but, although the Georgian clawed his way back from 1-4 in the decider to level, it was Murray who made it across the line.
One thing the Scot did not enjoy were repeated shouts from the crowd, apparently imitating Cristiano Ronaldo’s “Siuuu” celebration.
Murray said: “There were some people booing during my practice yesterday. I have no idea what for. So originally that’s what I thought it was. It was incredibly irritating.”
Murray next takes on
Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel, and he added: “I will hopefully keep improving. There are things in my game I can definitely do better.
“I would love to have a deep run here, if possible. It is something I have not had in one of the slams since I came back from injury and it is something that is motivating me. I have played some of my best tennis here over the years. I feel comfortable here and I hope I can do it here”
Dan Evans joined Murray in the second round with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-0, success against David Goffin.
Evans has begun the season in fine form while former top-10 star Goffin has been
plagued by injury troubles and retired with a knee issue during a match against Murray in Sydney last week.
Evans began the season with three victories for Great Britain at the ATP Cup before reaching the semi-finals in Sydney. The British No.2 also credited a change in his mental approach, saying: “I had a lot of fun at ATP Cup. I wasn’t too hard on myself in pre-season. No point in going after it in the gym when I didn’t have too long to go.
“I have played some good tennis already. Hopefully get some more this week, and you never know.”
Top seed Daniil Medvedev, meanwhile, knows he will face an early test of his title credentials when he takes on Nick Kyrgios in the second round.
He eased past Switzerland’s Henri Laaksonen 6-1, 6-4,
7-6 (7-3), but it will be a very different experience tomorrow against the talented and mercurial Kyrgios. The Australian was a doubt for the tournament after testing positive for Covid-19 but he put on his usual show against Liam Broady in a 6-4, 6-4, 6-3, win.
Kyrgios has won their only two previous meetings, and Medvedev said: “It’s definitely going to be not easy against the crowd. He’s going to try to pump himself up, he likes to play big names.”