Kokkinakis

2023 - 1 - 19

Post cover — Image courtesy of "Sportsnet.ca"

Murray edges Kokkinakis after 4 a.m. at Australian Open: 'We should ... (Sportsnet.ca)

Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis played deep into the night at the Australian Open, facing down exhaustion and each other for more than 5 1/2 hours in a ...

In the fourth, Murray was the aggressor and never seemed sapped of energy, at one point waving his arms and even doing jumping jacks to fire up his supporters. When Murray delivered a second-serve ace at 2:59 a.m., more than 4 1/2 hours into the proceedings, he owned the fourth set and forced a fifth. But serving at 2-0, 40-all, he was cited by the chair umpire for taking too much time before a serve and let it get to him. And how high was the quality of play? Somehow, it was not the latest finish in Australian Open history. “I mean, look, it is obviously amazing to win the match,” he continued with a chuckle, “but I also want to go to bed now.

Murray grinds down Kokkinakis in late-night epic (Reuters)

Former world number one Andy Murray produced one of his greatest ever comebacks to sink home hope Thanasi Kokkinakis in a titanic second-round thriller at ...

But Murray's greater experience of such duels enabled him to get the crucial break of serve in the following game with a stunning forehand winner before sealing victory in the next game on his first match point with a clinical backhand. Kokkinakis tightened with the finishing line in sight and the venom gradually went out of his shots as Murray threw caution to the wind and locked on to his target. "Yeah, I have a big heart. There was pandemonium when he saved four break points at 3-3 and Kokkinakis was within two points of victory when Murray served at 4-5 in the decider. Murray, back with coach Ivan Lendl who guided him to his Grand Slam titles and to world number one in 2016, has not gone past the third round of a Grand Slam since 2017 when his hip condition first surfaced. When Murray finally got the job done in what was the 250th and longest Grand Slam match of his career, the clock was showing 4.05am local time but a sizeable and vociferous crowd had remained glued to their seats in the Margaret Court Arena.

Two Hours From Daybreak, Murray Seals Epic Win Over Kokkinakis ... (ATP Tour)

Andy Murray defeats Thanasi Kokkinakis in a five-set thriller to reach the third round at the Australian Open.

Murray has produced some of his best tennis at the hard-court major, reaching the final five times. The 26-year-old Australian struck 39 winners across the first two sets and from 5-2 in the third set looked set to reach the third round in Melbourne for the first time. The Scot battled back from 2-5 in the third set to gain a foothold in the match, before he continued to play aggressively in the fourth and fifth sets to earn the 11th win of his career from two-sets-to-love down, more than any other active player. At 0-2, the Scot scampered from corner to corner, stretching every inch of his body to retrieve three smashes before Kokkinakis could only find the net with a forehand. It was a moment that summarised the match. in Melbourne the latest in his career. Despite spending nearly five hours on court against the Italian, Murray held up physically against Kokkinakis, looking the fresher of the two as the match went on. I did start playing better as the match went on, but yeah, I have a big heart. I just rely on that experience and drive. Murray withstood 102 winners, including 37 aces, from the South Australian. I don't know how I managed to get through it. I have experience of it.

Andy Murray vs Thanasi Kokkinakis result, highlights: British legend ... (Sporting News)

Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis will meet in a second-round Australian Open blockbuster at Margaret Court Arena on Thursday.

First set - Murray serve, Murray 4-5 Kokkinakis: An excellent Murray serve gets the Kokkinakis error. Game Kokkinakis. First set - Kokkinakis serve, Murray 4-6 Kokkinakis: Kokkinakis to serve for the first set. Murray nets and Kokkinakis gets the first set. Second set - Kokkinakis serve, Murray 2-2 Kokkinakis: Murray nets off the Australian's second serve. Second set - Murray serve, Murray 2-1 Kokkinakis: Kokkinakis wins the first point after Murray nets a drop shot. Second set - Kokkinakis serve, Murray 6-6 Kokkinakis: Kokkinakis comes to the net and makes a put-away volley. Fifth set - Kokkinakis serve, Murray 0-1 Kokkinakis: The Aussie gets the first point. Third set - Kokkinakis serve, Murray 0-1 Kokkinakis: The players share the first two points. Third set - Murray serve, Murray 6-6 Kokkinakis: Murray forces Kokkinakis into the defensive lob and wins the point at the let. Fourth set - Kokkinakis serve, Murray 2-2 Kokkinakis: Kokkinakis smashes a forehand winner. Fifth set - Murray serve, Murray 4-4 Kokkinakis: Brilliance by Murray with a winner right in the corner.

Murray edges Kokkinakis after 4 a.m. at Australian Open (EverythingGP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis played deep into the night at the Australian Op...

No matter who folks were cheering for, they were sure to leave with a great story to tell. [Andy Murray](https://apnews.com/article/sports-aryna-sabalenka-tereza-martincova-shelby-rogers-tennis-7bd33695507a0d232d75689fed51164a) and Thanasi Kokkinakis played deep into the night at [the Australian Open](https://apnews.com/article/sports-australian-open-lauren-davis-elise-mertens-shelby-rogers-ae82cc33da3814643d309a235d454657), facing down exhaustion and each other for more than 5 1/2 hours in a second-round match until Murray emerged with a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-5 victory that ended at just past 4 a.m. They began playing on Thursday and finished on Friday at Margaret Court Arena in the chill of a temperature that dipped below 60 degrees Fahrenheit (15 degrees Celsius) and before hundreds of enthusiastic spectators.

Andy Murray beats Thanasi Kokkinakis in near-six-hour Australian ... (The Guardian)

Andy Murray recovered from two sets down to win 4-6, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (5), 6-3, 7-5 against Thanasi Kokkinakis in the longest match of his career.

On Saturday, they will face each other again for a place in the fourth round. Murray’s performance on Rod Laver Arena had demonstrated that he can still play tennis of the highest level in a single contest, but as he returned to Melbourne Park it remained to be seen if, with his age and his physical state, he had the bandwidth to sufficiently recover in order to perform at the highest level once more. Minutes later, Murray drilled a backhand down-the-line winner to close off one of the greatest recoveries of his career. With the momentum at his back, Murray kept on moving, flitting through the fourth set to level the match. The home favourite served for the match at 5-3 in the third set, but Murray pulled him back again. It is the third latest finish in the history of tennis at tour level and the longest match of Murray’s 18-year career.