MELBOURNE: Andy Murray battled to his first win at the Australian Open since 2017 with an epic five-set victory over 21st seed Nikoloz Basilashvili on Tuesday.
The three-time Grand Slam champion, playing with a metal hip following career-saving surgery in 2019, wrestled with the Georgian for almost four hours before claiming his place in the second round.
Scotland’s Murray, ranked 113 and playing as a tournament wild card, showed his trademark fighting spirit to edge home in the gripping final set and clinch a 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 victory in 3 hours and 52 minutes on John Cain Arena.
It comes after his tearful exit from the 2019 Melbourne event with the hip injury which raised the possibility of his imminent retirement from tennis, before he went ahead with surgery just weeks later.
“Amazing, been a tough three or four years. Put in a lot work to get back here,” a relieved Murray, 34, said on court.
“I’ve played on this court many times and the atmosphere is incredible.
“It’s amazing to be back and winning a five-set battle like that, I couldn’t ask for any more.”
It continued a keen rivalry between the pair with Murray rallying from a set down to defeat the big-hitting Georgian last week in Sydney and also prevailing over four sets in the first round at Wimbledon last year.
Andy Murray wins five-set epic on return to Australian Open
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Andy Murray wins five-set epic on return to Australian Open
- The three-time Grand Slam champion is playing with a metal hip following career-saving surgery in 2019
- ‘It’s amazing to be back and winning a five-set battle like that, I couldn’t ask for any more’
Norway crown princess apologizes to king and queen over Epstein friendship
- “I also apologize for the situation that I have put the royal family in” Mette-Marit said
- She previously apologized for maintaining contacts, saying she displayed poor judgment
OSLO: Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit apologized again on Friday for her friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, one of several scandals to hit the Nordic country’s monarchy.
“I also apologize for the situation that I have put the royal family in, especially the King and Queen,” Mette-Marit said in a statement released by the royal palace.
New files related to Epstein published by the US Justice Department last week included extensive email correspondence between Mette-Marit and Epstein after he was found guilty of child sex crimes in 2008.
Mette-Marit, the spouse of Harald’s son Crown Prince Haakon, the heir to the throne, previously apologized for maintaining contacts, saying she displayed poor judgment.
Norway’s prime minister on Monday said that Mette-Marit, and other prominent Norwegians who were named in the latest Epstein documents published, should provide more details about their involvement with Epstein.
Norway’s royal family is already dealing with several challenges. Marius, Mette-Marit’s son from a relationship predating her marriage to Crown Prince Haakon, is currently on trial for rape and domestic violence.
