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Andy Murray edges Berrettini in 5 sets at Australian Open

Jan 17, 2023 | 12:18 AM

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Andy Murray has beaten a top-20 opponent at a Grand Slam tournament for the first time since 2017.

The three-time major champion blew a big early lead, then needed to save a match point and wound up eliminating 13th-seeded Matteo Berrettini in five sets in the first round of the Australian Open.

The match was played under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena because the tournament’s heat rule was invoked. Murray raced through the first two sets in less than 1 1/2 hours before the big-hitting, big-serving Berrettini turned things around and took the match to a fifth.

Murray won 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7), 7-6 (10-6).