Nick Kyrgios Pulls Out Of Australian Open With Knee Injury
Andy Murray begins his Australian Open campaign on Tuesday but takes on one of the top players in the world in Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in the opening round. Murray received a tough draw when he was paired with the 26-year-old Berrettini, who reached the Australian Open semi-finals last year, where he was beaten by the eventual champion Rafael Nadal.
But Murray is feeling optimistic he can cause an upset and said: “Obviously it is a tough draw. But I also feel I am in a much better place than I was during any of the Slams last year coming into it. I feel well prepared.
“I feel ready to play a top player early in the event. Whereas last year at times, my game didn’t feel that great and getting a difficult draw didn’t feel great. I feel I am in a better place this time to deal with that.”
Later, Novak Djokovic headlines the second day of action at the Australian Open as the nine-time tournament champion returns to Melbourne Park for his first competitive match since being deported from the country 12 months ago.
Djokovic takes on the Spaniard Roberto Carballés Baena in the opening round and is expected to get another warm welcome at the Rod Laver Arena, as he begins his quest for a 10th Australian Open title and record-equaling 22nd grand slam.
Ons Jabeur, Aryna Sabalenka and Caroline Garcia are among the top seeds who get their tournaments underway in the women’s draw.
Follow live updates and the latest scores from the Australian Open in our live blog below.
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7) Murray – Berrettini wins fourth set
Now can Murray edge ahead and bring up match point?
OH MY GOODNESS WHAT A POINT! Murray almost produces a forehand winner down the line, then Berrettini produces the backhand pass! Murray flies at the volley, diving, but it just drifts long!
Set point Berrettini, but he goes long on the backhand slice! 7-7!
There was a chance for Murray, but Berrettini digs out a brilliant volley, and Murray puts the forehand wide! 8-7, and a third set point.
Murray was inches from an ace out wide… Berrettini attacks on the forehand, Murray defends, but as the Italian approaches the net, Murray sends the forehand long!
Berrettini takes the set after a classic tiebreak! Incredible drama, insane.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:45
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-6 Murray – Tiebreak
Berrettini edges ahead once more with another big serve. 4-3
More positive, aggressive play from Murray on the backhand side. He steps into the shot and it rattles Berrettini. 4-4
What a point! A 24-shot rally! But it goes the way of Berrettini. Stunning defence from the Italian, and Murray blinks as he drags the backhand wide! He leads 5-4 with two serves to come!
Winner from Murray! What a forehand down the line! Sensational! 5-5
And it’s followed by another ace from Berrettini! 6-5, and set point to the Italian, but Murray will serve next.
We go on! Murray targets the Berrettini backhand, and gets his reward! Berrettini nets, a poor error.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:39
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-6 Murray – Tiebreak
A long rally on the Murray serve to start, he’s found success with them and Berrettini nets on the backhand side. 0-1
Berrettini produces another big serve, as well as the forehand winner out wide. 1-1
Ace down the middle from Berrettini. Not much Murray can do about that. 2-1
Brilliant from Murray. He steps into the backhand crosscourt and Berrettini can’t respond. 2-2
But Murray is the first to blink! Off the Berrettini return, Murray can’t do enough and he drops a poor backhand into the net. It’s a mini-break for Berrettini. 3-2
But Berrettini throws it back! He sends the forehand long and Murray gets back into it as we change ends. 3-3
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:33
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-6 Murray
Berrettini lands the overhead to start his service game after Murray was sent running around the baseline – then the Italian hits the one-two combination to put away a forehand winner.
Berrettini drifts long and then Murray hangs in the next point, before Berrettini nets!
Suddenly there’s a huge point at 30-30. Ace from Berrettini. Just like that.
And another huge bomb out wide from Berrettini. Murray can only get a racquet on it.
We’re heading to a tiebreak.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:32
Australian Open 2023: *Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 5-6 Murray
An ace from Murray to start, but then he switches off as Berrettini’s slice catches the back of the line. Murray seemed to stop.
But he repsonds with another big serve down the middle. Berrettini can’t reply, and then he goes long on the next return.
Another first serve from Murray. Berrettini nets, and it means Murray earns himself a tiebreak at least.
Berrettini must serve to stay in it again.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:27
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 5-5 Murray*
Huge pressure on Berrettini now as he looks to stay alive in this match – and he makes the perfect start with a powerful backhand winner down the line.
It’s tense on Rod Laver and Murray’s return on the Berrettini first serve finds the net, and the next one drifts long. A third big serve from Berrettini, out wide, earns the hold.
He responds to the pressure.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:23
Australian Open 2023: *Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 4-5 Murray
Wow – that’s a gorgeous backhand pass from Murray to get to 30-0, after he had put Berrettini in position.
Then he directs a lovely backhand up the line. Berrettini goes wide.
And the forehand winner seals the hold to love. Super play from Murray.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:18
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 4-4 Murray*
Murray has a look at a backhand down the line and nets, and Berrettini takes advantage as he whips a clean forehand winner down the line.
Big serve from Berrettini and then a lovely touch with the drop shot. Those were not coming off earlier.
We are into a third hour and there is nothing to split Murray and Berrettini in the fourth.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:15
Australian Open 2023: *Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 3-4 Murray
Super from Murray – skidding a backhand slice and then putting away a forehand winner down the line. The return from Berrettini stays in but the forehand errors are starting creep back in, and then Berrettini nets again after Murray defends well on the baseline!
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:11
Australian Open 2023: Berrettini 3-6 3-6 6-4 3-3 Murray*
Simple stuff from Berrettini as the Italian holds to love, put away with a leaping volley at the net. Murray will get the new balls as he looks to edge back in front.
Jamie Braidwood17 January 2023 06:06
