Andy Murray and Matteo Berrettini staged a real thriller: the pair needed a match lasting four hours and 49 minutes to determine the winner. The Scotsman, the former ATP leader, won after a five-set match (6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(10-6), the Italian missed the match decisive field.

Andy Murray, great win with Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open

Murray (35) advances to the second round of the Australian Open after one of the tightest matches of this year’s AO.

Against the 13th seed, Andy led 2-0 in sets (6-3, 6-3) and the match was close to an easy victory for the Scotsman.

But Berrettini woke up from his lethargy, remembered that he is one of the best players on the ATP circuit, and managed to raise the level of his game. The Italian came back into the match, won the next two legs, and the fate of a spectacular match at Rod Laver Arena was decided in the deciding set.

At 5-4 in the fifth set, Matteo missed a match point (he lacked inspiration during the rally, where he would normally have finished the match at the net), and fate finally smiled on Andy.

Murray’s mind was clearer in the maxi tiebreak, and the victory (10-7) came after a real fight that lasted four hours and 49 minutes.

Former ATP leader and winner of three Grand Slam tournaments (US Open 2012 and Wimbedon 2013, 2016) Andy Murray reached five finals in Melbourne in his career, all of which he lost (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016) .