Australian Open 2023 – 1st round | Andy Murray achieves the feat by beating Matteo Berrettini in five sets

It was one of the posters for this 1st round of the Australian Open, and the least we can say is that it did not disappoint. At the end of a magnificent battle, especially in his second part, Andy Murray went for a benchmark victory for him in the Grand Slam since his return from a heavy hip operation in 2019. The Scotsman managed to resist the rise of Matteo Berrettini, 14th player in the world, saving a match point in passing to win after the decisive super tie-break (6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7, 7-6) after almost five hours of play (4h49 precisely). He will have to recover well before facing Thanasi Kokkinakis or Fabio Fognini.

“Sir Andy” wasn’t bluffing. In the pre-tournament press conference, he did not hide his satisfaction with his progress in recent weeks in his travels. He thus considered himself much better equipped to face Matteo Berrettini than he was in the third round of the US Open during their last duel a few months ago. And he joined words to deeds in a Rod Laver Arena with a closed roof and air conditioning because of the high heat of the day. At 35 and with a hip of metal, he beat his first Top 20 Grand Slam since Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals of Roland-Garros… 2017. And he owes it only to himself.

Physically and mentally unfailing strength

Because from start to finish, Murray has evolved at an amazing level. Frankly dominating against an absent Berrettini in the first two sets, he could even have folded the case earlier. At 2-1 in his favor in the third act, he obtained two break points to definitively put his rival’s head under water. But the Italian then woke up, regaining his strike force and his punching tennis to ward off the danger and delight the Scot’s service in stride. A turning point undoubtedly amplified by the gain of the fourth act after an unbreathable tie-break snatched 9 points from 7.

Everything then had to be redone for the Scotsman who could have suffered the blow. Many would have collapsed in his place, especially after going two points short of the match several times in this 4th set. Especially since on the other side of the net, Berrettini had himself started the aces machine. After hitting “only” 8 in the first two rounds, he hit 23 more afterwards (31 in all) including 10 in the 5th and last act alone. Extinguished therefore at the raise, Murray did not however get frustrated, always applying himself to be aggressive on his service games while scampering off like a rabbit in defense when he was forced to. And it was ultimately mentally that the old veteran made the difference.

Berrettini betrayed by his nerves at the moment of the coup de grace

By sending into the bottom of the net a ready-made backhand passing on match point at 5-4, 30/40, Berrettini hinted at a flaw that his rival was patiently waiting for. And in the super tie-break, Murray drove the point home by winning the first five points against an opponent suddenly deprived of his main weapon: his first ball.

As a symbol, the Scot won in a final twist of fate, the band of the net being generous after his backhand return. But luck smiles on the daring and “Sir Andy” deserved it. Four years after his tearful farewell in Melbourne, the hour of retirement has definitely not come.