Andy Murray Goes The Distance To Upset Matteo Berrettini At The Australian Open

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Andy Murray Goes The Distance To Upset Matteo Berrettini At The Australian Open
By Thurston Soros, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Tuesday, January 17, 2023 9:10pm PST USA

Melbourne-- Tuesday in the opening round of the Australian Open at Melbourne, the former Wimbledon champion and unseeded Andy Murray of Great Britain went the distance; battling for four hours and 49 minutes before upsetting the 13th seed Matteo Berrettini of Italy 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(7-9), 7-6(10-6).

Murray lost serve once in the third set; his only service game loss of the day.

After trading powerful serves and groundstrokes for much of the match, Berrettini struck three aces in a row to hold serve in set five to lead 5-4.

Andy Murray of Great Britain

Murray hit an inside out crosscourt forehand return netcord winner to close out the match; his 40th winner of the day.

With Murray serving to stay in the match at 30 all, the Italian struck a powerful crosscourt forehand return.

Murray netted a crosscourt slice forehand to face matchpoint.

Berrettini netted a crosscourt backhand pass before Murray struck an ace down the tee to hold serve and level the set at five games all.

The two players entered a tiebreaker following a hold of serve from each.

Murray struck a down the line backhand passing shot winner to open the tiebreaker.

Berrettini hit four consecutive groundstroke errors to then trail 0-5.

Following several additional errors from the ground from both players, Murray led 8-3 in the ten point tiebreaker.

Murray framed two groundstrokes while under pressure from the Italian to reach 8-5.

Murray then serve and volleyed but hit a swing down the line forehand volley long to reach 8-6.

Berrettini struck a down the line backhand pass wide to face matchpoint at 9-6.

Murray hit an inside out crosscourt forehand return netcord winner to close out the match; his 40th winner of the day to 34 unforced errors.

Berrettini for the day hit 72 winners to 59 unforced errors including 31 aces to one doublefault.

In round two at the Australian Open on Thursday (Wednesday night PST USA), Murray faces either Thanasi Kokkinakis of Australia or Fabio Fognini of Italy.