Former world No.1 Andy Murray has proven Thanasi Kokkinakis who’s boss, grinding out a gob-smacking five-set comeback victory to earn a spot within the Australian Open third spherical.
Profitable the opening two units and main 5-2 within the third, Kokkinakis appeared on monitor to finish a uncommon each day treble by Australian males, with Alexei Popyrin and Alex de Minaur earlier banking rousing second spherical wins.
However as a substitute the South Australian was left heart-broken with the Scot spoiling the get together with a 4-6 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-5) 6-Three 7-5 defeat which lasted 5 hours 45 minutes – the second longest in Australian Open historical past.
A big crowd stayed at Margaret Court docket Area till the dying, the match threatening the file for the newest grand slam end which was a 4.34am epic in 2008 at Melbourne Park when Lleyton Hewitt trumped Marcos Bagdahtis.
Together with his early profession ravaged by damage, Kokkinakis had by no means beforehand gone previous the Open second spherical, solely as soon as earlier than reaching the third spherical at a grand slam with that top coming again in 2015 on the French Open.
It appeared like his fortunes would change however never-say-die Murray refused to remain on script.
Kokkinakis struggled to shut out the primary three units, blowing 5 set factors within the second earlier than taking it in a tiebreak, and within the third he led 5-2.
The 26-year-old briefly misplaced the plot when main 2-Zero within the third when he obtained a time violation on his serve after restarting his motion when a fan known as out.
A livid Kokkinakis stormed in the direction of the chair umpire, remonstrating and saying it was payback as a result of the umpire “felt dangerous” about giving Murray an earlier one.
Kokkinakis then misplaced the sport as he did not put away 4 overheads after Murray scrambled madly, with the Australian smashing his racquet into the court docket and incomes a code violation.
Three-time main winner Murray, ranked 66, then used the chaos to consolidate, leveling at 2-2.
Kokkinakis managed to regroup, together with his firepower giving him the prospect to serve for the match at 5-4. Nonetheless, one other wobble allowed the wily Scot again in and the house hope surrendered the tiebreak with a wild volley.
Regardless of competing with a steel hip, Murray confirmed no indicators of slowing down and dominated the fourth to place the match on stage phrases.
The pair went toe-to-toe within the fifth set, at 3-Three Kokkinakis saved 4 break factors to remain on serve.
He then saved one other 4 at 5-5, however Murray fired a forehand winner to conjure the break, permitting him to serve out the match.
