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Australian Open 2023 day two as it happened : Djokovic, Murray through to second round, De Minaur defeats Hsu Yu Hsiou

Ronny Lerner, Angus Dalton and Marnie Vinall
Updated ,first published
Pinned post from 7.04pm on Jan 17, 2023
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Murray claims upset win over 13th seed Berrettini

By Marnie Vinall

Well, that was an epic!

Andy Murray has held off 13th seed Matteo Berrettini to win a five-set thriller on Rod Laver Arena in a match decided by a tense tiebreaker after almost five hours on the court.

Murray won 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-6).

Andy Murray.Getty

The 26-year-old Italian went into the day as the hot favourite but Murray, three-time grand slam champion and five-time Australian Open runner-up, was relentless and caused the first big upset win of the tournament.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be very tired. Right now, I’m unbelievably happy, very proud of myself,” Murray said immediately afterwards.

“We’ve put a lot of work in in the last few months to be able to play matches like that against players like him, and it paid off.”

Murray also credited Berrettini in serving incredibly well and accurately, and for being hard to break.

Murray will play the winner of the match between Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis and Italian Fabio Fognini.

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That’s it for day two!

By Jackson Graham and Marnie Vinall

In extreme Melbourne fashion, day two of the Australian Open featured matches first delayed due to the heat, with the temperature reaching 37 degrees, and then suspended due to the rain.

All in all, it was a bizarre day for spectators, fans and officials, with some impacted more than others.

Thanasi Kokkinakis was five points away from victory against Italy’s Fabio Fognini when the match was suspended due to rain for the third time, and then rescheduled.

It was among a slew of matches that were called off late in the evening and rescheduled for after 12.30pm the following day, including local wildcard Max Purcell’s match against Emil Ruusuvuori.

Yet in better news for the Australians, Alex de Minaur cruised through to the second round after defeating Taiwan’s Hsu Yu Hsiou in straight sets 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 at John Cain Arena and wildcard Kimberly Birrell knocked out 31st seed and 2022 quarter-finalist Kaia Kanepi.

Aussie Popyrin through to the second round

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Alexei Popyrin has sealed his spot in the second round of the Australian Open.

The Australian wildcard defeated former world No.1-ranked junior Tseng Chun-Hsin in a late-night battle at John Cain Arena, recording a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-1 victory.

Alexei Popyrin defeated Chun-Hsin Tseng in the first-round match.Eddie Jim

The 23-year-old Sydneysider enjoyed a terrific five-set win, battling through several interruptions before finally prevailing after nearly 4.5 hours.

The gruelling match finished just after 2am.

Popyrin will face eighth-seeded American Taylor Fritz in a second-round showdown.

Casper Ruud through to second round

By Marnie Vinall

Second seed Casper Ruud is through to the second round after defeating Tomas Maohao 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (5-7), 6-3.

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Djokovic cruises through to second round

By Jackson Graham

Novak Djokovic has won his first match at this year’s Australian Open after opponent Roberto Carballes Baena’s game fell apart in the third set.

Djokovic played a clinical third set, defeating the Spaniard 6-0.

He won the match 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in around two hours.

Novak DjokovicGetty

The Serbian, speaking after the win, said he was pleased with his performance in the third set, acknowledging the second set was “up and down” and paying credit to Carballes Baena.

Djokovic has taken the second set

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Novak Djokovic has taken the second set of his opening clash with Roberto Carballes Baena, despite the Spaniard pressuring the tournament favourite.

Djokovic won the second set 4-6, despite showing some frustration at times as Carballes Baena kept the Serbian working for every point.

Novak DjokovicGetty

The pair have shared some longer rallies throughout the match. Carballes Baena is now serving in the third set, with Djokovic taking an early lead.

Kokkinakis’ match rescheduled with Aussie on brink of win

By Marnie Vinall

Thanasi Kokkinakis’ was five points away from progressing to the second round when his match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini was suspended for the third time due to rain at Kia Arena.

The match has now been called off for the night and will be rescheduled tomorrow.

Kokkinakis had won the first two sets 6-1, 6-2 and was leading 4-2, 40-15 in the third set.

If he is to advance, he’ll face three-time grand slam champion Andy Murray, who had a thrilling upset win over 13th seed Matteo Berrettini at Rod Laver Arena earlier in the day.

Thanasi KokkinakisGetty
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Solid start for Casper Ruud

By Lynette Eyb

Second seed Casper Ruud is getting on with business on Margaret Court Arena.

The Norwegian is up two sets against the Czech Republic’s Tomas Machac and they’re on serve in the third.

Ruud v Machac 6-3, 7-6 (8-6), 3-3

Kokkinakis’ match suspended due to rain

By Marnie Vinall

A crowd member yelled “There’s nothing you can do about the weather, Kokka, love you!” as Aussie Thanasi Kokkinakis’ match against Italy’s Fabio Fognini was suspended due to the rain at Kia Arena.

Thanasi KokkinakisEddie Jim for The Age

Kokkinakis looked visibly dejected to have stopped the match in which he was dominating. The Australian has been cruising, claiming the first two sets 6-1, 6-2 and leading 4-2, 40-15 in the third set.

He was just five points away from winning the match.

The crowd has begun to empty as fans and players wait for an update in the third time the match has stopped due to the weather.

Purcell hanging in against Ruusuvuori

By Lynette Eyb

After a rain delay, play was back under way – briefly – on Court 7, where Australian Max Purcell is playing Finland’s Emil Ruusuvuori.

It’s been tight. Purcell won the first set, only for the Finn to bounce back and win the next two. Purcell needs to win this set to stay in the match – and it’s gone to a tie-breaker.

He’s been cheered on by a small but rowdy local crowd.

It’s now raining again – and play has been suspended with the match on a knife edge.

Purcell v Ruusuvuori 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-6.

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Djokovic wins first set

By Jackson Graham

Novak Djokovic has won the first set against Roberto Carballes Baena in 42 minutes.

After a shaky start, Djokovic won the set 6-3.

Carballes Baena is first to serve in the second set.

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