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England’s Andy Murray defeats Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis during their men’s singles match on day four of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 20, 2023. (AFP)
MELBOURNE = Andy Murray won an epic, five-set Australian Open battle that ended early Friday in Melbourne after nine-time champion Novak Djokovic defied injury and a drunken man to progress to the third round.
Murray came back to beat the home front and ranked 159th Thanasi Kokkinakis 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 7-5 – the match ended just after 04:00.
At five hours and 45 minutes, it was the longest match of Murray’s career.
Djokovic, chasing his 10th Australian Open and a record-equaling 22nd Grand Slam title as a man, defeated 191st-ranked French qualifier Enzo Couacaud 6-1, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2, 6-0.
Ons Jabeur was the top seed among the many seeds to crash on Thursday, although much of the carnage occurred in the men’s draw – second seeds Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Zverev and Diego Schwartzman were all sent packing.
Former world number one Murray, 35, will face 24th seed Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain in the third round after his second win in five sets this week.
“It’s unbelievable that I managed to do it, to turn it around,” said the Grand Slam champion three times, who has a metal hip and appeared on the verge of retirement four years ago in Melbourne Park.
“I don’t know how I got through it.”
Murray has stunned 13th seed Italian Matteo Berrettini in his opening match in five other sets.
Despite the drama, serious questions are being asked about the final finish.
“It is important that we make better rules in tennis about the weather (light and wind) and the start time or cutoff time for matches,” tweeted tennis legend Martina Navratilova.
“Murray and Kokkinakis will finish around 4am. Crazy- no other sport does this @AustralianOpen.
With the shock exit on Wednesday of defending champion Rafael Nadal, the top two men’s seeds are now gone.
With top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz also out due to injury, this presents a huge opportunity for Djokovic.
The 35-year-old Serb needed a medical time-out and had severe strapping on his left thigh against Couacaud.
He was also harassed by some rowdy fans and at one point during the match demanded that a drunken fan be thrown out.
But Djokovic regained his strength and fitness to overcome and will face 27th seed Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.
“There was a lot going on in this match,” Djokovic, who is nursing a hamstring injury, told Rod Laver Arena.
The on-field interview was stopped for a moment when an audience member shouted.
“I love you too, thank you,” said Djokovic, who has enjoyed his return to Melbourne Park after being deported a year ago for his stance on the Covid vaccine. the second round.
‘dream’
Among the men’s major losers on Thursday, world number three Ruud always struggled against Jenson Brooksby, and the Norwegian went down in four sets to the American, 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4/ 7), 6 -2.
Ruud, who could be number one in Melbourne, refused to blame the stomach injury.
“I gave it my all, but in the fourth set especially it wasn’t enough,” he said.
Eighth seed Fritz also went home after local wildcard hope Alexei Popyrin beat him 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6- 2 .
“It’s a dream and I don’t want to wake up,” said 113th-ranked Popyrin, who broke down in tears as the crowd called his name.
Zverev, seeded 12th, suffered another setback in his return from serious injury as he lost to 107th-ranked Michael Mmoh.
Jabeur was surprised
In the women’s picture it looks like most of the top seeds will sail.
But after an hour past midnight, Tunisia’s second seed Jabeur was beaten 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 in 1 hour 41 minutes by Czech world number 86 Marketa Vondrousova.
Jabeur is still waiting to win his first Grand Slam title.
Earlier in the day, Aryna Sabalenka showed whether she is a serious contender by powering into the third round, defeating American Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-1.
Also safely through was French fourth seed Caroline Garcia, who won 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 against former US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez.
American qualifier Katie Volynets dumped Russian world number nine Veronika Kudermetova.
The 21-year-old Volynets won 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 and later paid tribute to her family in war-torn Ukraine.
“I really feel for them and to have their support through all of this is amazing,” she said.
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