Australian Open: Andy Murray defeats Thanasi Kokkinakis in five-set Melbourne epic | Tennis News

Andy Murray battled back from two sets down to defeat home hope Thanasi Kokkinakis in a five-set epic that finished at 4.05am local time at the Australian Open.

Australian Kokkinakis served for victory at 5-3 in the third set of their second-round encounter on a rowdy, partisan Margaret Court Arena only for Murray to show once again that his greatest asset is a stubborn refusal to
lose.

The 35-year-old, who had battled for nearly five hours to upset Matteo Berrettini on Tuesday in his best result since 2017, forced a deciding set and finally prevailed 4-6 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 in a match that will live long in the memory.

At five hours and 45 minutes, it was the longest match of Murray’s whole career and the third-latest finish to a tennis match ever.

Much earlier in the day, Dan Evans raced past veteran Frenchman Jeremy Chardy and into the third round where he will meet fifth seed Andrey Rublev.

The British No 2 would have been grateful for the cooler conditions in Melbourne after his first-round clash with Facundo Bagnis was delayed by extreme heat.

He battled for three and a half hours to get past the Argentinian but needed less than two hours to wrap up a 6-4 6-4 6-1 victory over 35-year-old Chardy.

Chardy incensed after Umpiring controversy

Evans kept his cool through an umpiring controversy when Chardy was incensed by an incident in the seventh game of the first set.

When, facing break point, a ball fell out of his pocket during play, which would normally cause the point to be replayed.

But German umpire Miriam Bley did not notice until a split second after Chardy netted and awarded the point to Evans.

Chardy argued his case at length and the supervisor was called to court but the decision remained the same.

He did not hold back afterwards, saying: “It’s a big mistake from the umpire. I was angry because she should stop straightaway, and she says she didn’t even see the ball.

“I don’t know what she’s doing because she doesn’t call in or out, she just called the score, and if she doesn’t watch the point, I don’t know why she’s on the chair. So I was p****d, and I was even more p****d when she didn’t tell me she made the mistake.”

Chardy believes umpires should face sanctions in such situations, saying: “It’s what I said to her. If I miss a point, then break my racket, I will get fined. You can do a huge mistake and nothing will happen to you. So I think this is not fair.”

“I don’t really know what to make of what happened. I don’t really know who was in the right and who was in the wrong. It was just a pretty awkward situation”

Evans said of the incident: “The only part I wanted to clear up was I was just simply asking the umpire why it was a let. I didn’t see any of what happened, because obviously the play was all in the other corner. I think it went on a bit too long, and it got cleared up, and then I did a good job of holding.

“I know Jeremy relatively well, so I didn’t really want it to sour the match. If it was someone I didn’t know so well, I’d be hoping he was getting fired up and a bit angry with the situation.

“I don’t really know what to make of what happened. I don’t really know who was in the right and who was in the wrong. It was just a pretty awkward situation.”

Evans would like to see the rule changed, saying: “I think it’s the worst rule ever. If a ball comes out of your pocket, it’s your own fault.”

Former quarter-finalist Rublev fought off a challenge from Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori in the third set to make it through with a 6-2 6-4 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 win.