Misc Tennis

Australian Open 2023 results: Andy Murray stuns Matteo Berrettini, Dan Evans beats Facundo Bagnis

andy murray

Andy Murray celebrated his first victory over a top-20 opponent at a Grand Slam since 2017
Dates: 16-29 January Venue: Melbourne Park
Coverage: Commentary every day from 07:00 GMT on Radio 5 Sports Extra ‘Tennis Breakfast’ live from Melbourne, with selected live text commentaries and match reports on the BBC Sport website and app.

Britain’s Andy Murray produced one of his best performances in recent years to hold off Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini and win a five-set thriller in the Australian Open first round.

The 35-year-old Scot looked stunned after completing a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-6) win on Rod Laver Arena.

Murray, who thought hip surgery in 2019 would end his career, saved a match point at 5-4 in the decider.

Dan Evans is also through after beating Argentina’s Facundo Bagnis.

Evans, seeded 25th, won 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 in a first-round match that was delayed for three hours because of extreme heat in Melbourne.

Former world number one Murray later ensured four Britons would play in the second round – after Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie won on Monday – with a memorable victory over last year’s semi-finalist Berrettini.

It was Murray’s first victory over a top-20 opponent at a Grand Slam since 2017.

The three-time major champion will play Italian veteran Fabio Fognini or Australia’s Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round on Thursday.

Evans, 32, will play French veteran Jeremy Chardy in the second round.

The British number two had taken a two-sets-to-one lead when the players were taken off court as temperatures topped 35C at Melbourne Park.

Cooler conditions when they returned at 5pm local time – after a three-hour break – helped Evans wrap up a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 win.

dan evans
Evans beat Bagnis in the first round when he reached the Melbourne last 16 in 2017 – a career-best run in Melbourne

More to follow.

Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at BBC Sport – Tennis…