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Nick Kyrgios Pulls Out Of Australian Open With Knee Injury
Andy Murray begins his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday but takes on one of the top players in the world in Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the opening round. Murray received a tough draw when he was paired with the 26-year-old Berrettini, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals last year, where he was beaten by the eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
But Murray is feeling optimistic he can cause an upset and said: “Obviously it is a tough draw. But I also feel I am in a much better place than I was during any of the Slams last year coming into it. I feel well prepared.
“I feel ready to play a top player early in the event. Whereas last year at times, my game didn’t feel that great and getting a difficult draw didn’t feel great. I feel I am in a better place this time to deal with that.”
Later, Novak Djokovic headlines the second day of action at the Australian Open as the nine-time tournament champion returns to Melbourne Park for his first competitive match since being deported from the country 12 months ago.
Djokovic takes on the Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena in the opening round and is expected to get another warm welcome at the Rod Laver Arena, as he begins his quest for a 10th Australian Open title and record-equaling 22nd grand slam.
Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka and Caroline Garcia are among the top seeds who get their tournaments underway in the women’s draw.
Follow live updates and the latest scores from the Australian Open in our live blog below.
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-6 Murray - Match tiebreak
Berrettini bombs the first serve down the middle, cutting Murray’s lead. Insane pressure now. 5-8
No! Murray lands the first serve, Berrettini chips back, but Murray’s driven forehand goes long! It’s down to 6-8!
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 08:03
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-6 Murray - Match tiebreak
First serve out wide from Murray, Berrettini goes long on the forehand! 1-6
Berrettini moves Murray around, and this time his slice drifts long. 2-6
Berrettini now can’t buy a first serve, Murray attacks with the backhand, but Berrettini steadies, holds on, and Murray pushes the crosscourt forehand wide! 3-6
What a time for a first serve from Murray! Berrettini can’t reply, but Murray isn’t done yet. Remember it’s first to 10. 3-7
Brilliant again from Murray! Serve out wide to the Berrettini forehand, cuts the angle on the return, and Berrettini nets! Two points away... 3-8
But Berrettini fights on! In an incredible 17-point rally, he turns defence into attack, and then crushes the winner down the line. 4-8
We change ends...
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:57
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-6 Murray - Match tiebreak
Murray wins the first point, and on the Berrettini serve! He brings the Italian in for a drop shot, covers the pass, and puts the backhand away. 0-1
What a point from Murray! He drags Berrettini this way and that, hitting the lines with aggressive forehands, and Berrettini nets on the slice! 0-2
And Murray goes back to his serve out wide, to the Berrettini forhand, and the Italian can’t return! What a start, but there’s a long way to go. 0-3
Berrettini can’t find a first serve, and then nets again! Suddenly the errors are back from Berrettini! But Murray is forcing them! 0-4
Berrettini then goes long on the slice! It’s FIVE points in a row for Murray, no first serves yet for Berrettini! 0-5
A first error from Murray gets Berrettini on the board - Murray stretched on the backhand, and pushed it long. 1-5
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:51
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-6 Murray - Match tiebreak
Huge pressure on Murray here, but gets a bit of a gift from Berrettini as the Italian puts a second-serve return straight into the net.
40-15, and Berrettini nets again on the backhand side!
We’re heading for a match tiebreaker, first to 10 points.
Can’t cope.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:50
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 6-5 Murray*
Well, that backhand chance on match point from Berrettini should be ringing around his ears, but he opens his service game with a clean forehand winner into the corner - and then another brutal serve out wide that Murray can’t return.
A delicious drop shot from Berrettini beats Murray, who then has to duck to dodge the umpire’s chair.
40-15, and Murray nets from the baseline. Berrettini holds.
Murray will again have to serve to stay in it.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:43
Australian Open 2023: *Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 5-5 Murray - Murray saves match point
And now Murray must do what Berrettini did twice in the fourth, and serve to stay in the match.
After an ace gets him to 30-0, Murray looked to have control of the point but puts a volley wide.
It’s followed by a poor forehand from the baseline - sloppy - and suddenly Berrettini has a real chance at 30-30.
And Berrettini tightens his grip: he attacks Murray’s serve and forces the error, bringing up match point.
And what a chance! Murray played a poor drop shot, and Berrettini had a backhand to win it! But it goes straight into the net!
Another Berrettini backhand into the net!
Advantage Murray, but Berrettini makes no mistake this time when stepping up his attack. He drills the forehand for a winner.
Another gruelling point, but Murray holds on! Berrettini sends his forehand long.
Ace from Murray! NOT. DONE. YET.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:36
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 5-4 Murray*
There’s another big fist-pump from Murray as he reaches the drop shot from Berrettini, and flips the pick-up over the net for a winner!
But Berrettini brings down the mood with three consecutive aces! How do you deal with that?
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:32
Australian Open 2023: *Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 4-4 Murray
Berrettini gets Murray running with a backhand lob, but Murray dictates the next three points to move clear. He then snaps a brilliant forehand into the corner. There’s plenty of life in him yet as we go even deeper into this fifth.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:29
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 4-3 Murray*
A loose backhand from Murray sees Berrettini able to hold to love. Murray hasn’t been able to find a way to disrupt his serving, but it’s a tough ask.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:25
Australian Open 2023: *Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 3-3 Murray
Strong serving from Murray gets him to 40-0, with Berrettini then netting on the sliding forehand. That’s a very welcome hold at this stage, as we enter the fourth hour of this epic contest.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 07:22