Australian Open 2023: Andy Murray comes back from down 2 sets to defeat Thanasi Kokkinakis and advance to third round
If you haven’t been paying much attention to this year’s Australian Open, you likely missed an all-time moment.
Into the wee hours of the morning in Melbourne (past 4:00 a.m. local time, to be more specific), 35-year-old Andy Murray pulled off a miraculous comeback to defeat the younger Thanasi Kokkinakis in five sets and advance past the tournament’s second round.
Murray trailed Kokkinakis by two sets before kicking things into another gear and initiating the unforgettable comeback. The third set, which he fought tooth and nail for to stave off elimination, provided what could go down as the highlight of the Open.
The highlight:
ANDY. MURRAY.
Madness in Melbourne!@andy_murray • @wwos • @espn • @eurosport • @wowowtennis • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/NaHx1FkJnu
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 19, 2023
The incredible defense during the rally earned Murray the game and eventually the set by the score of 7-6. He’d go on to take the fourth set 6-3 to set up a fifth and deciding one.
Of course, Murray’s huge comeback would’ve been meaningless without finishing it off with a victory. But Murray sealed the deal five hours and 45 minutes later after a 7-5 final-set win in what’s now officially the second-longest Australian Open match ever.
This moment. What a total hero.
@AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/mvLdyZgKkz
— LTA (@the_LTA) January 19, 2023
The comeback gave Murray his 11th win from down two sets, which is the most in the Open era.
Most comeback wins from two sets down:
11 – Andy MURRAY
10 – Roger Federer
10 – Boris Becker
10 – Aaron KricksteinWARRIOR @andy_murray @AustralianOpen pic.twitter.com/NhTpyMeXf8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) January 19, 2023
Murray has +4000 odds at BetMGM to win the Australian Open.