Key events
Show only key events
Please enable JavaScript to use this feature
Murray 4-6, 6-7 (4), 0-2 *Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
It’s one of those nights for Kokkinakis when things just click and all the punches fall. He swings a forehand down the line that curves in a perfect arc and finds its target in the corner. Murray can only watch the ball go past him.
It’s soon 0-30 and when Murray hits long for 0-40, the Scotsman is irritably lashing out at a ball bouncing at his feet. He hits long again, it’s an early break for Kokkinakis and Murray throws the ball in the air in frustration.
*Murray 4-6, 6-7 (4), 0-1 Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
At 15-15 Kokkinakis hits a brilliant serve wide which Murray does extremely well to return. Arrows back to the far corner but Kokkinakis is all over, in position to hit a winner down the line that drops into the corner.
First blood to the Australian in the third and potentially final set.
Don’t go the Andy Murray way. Photo: Will Murray/Getty Images
Updated at 13.44 GMT
Murray was off the court for a comfortable rest. Now he’s back and out on the court to face Kokkinakis, who is currently waving a box of tissues next to his chair. But here he is now, ready to serve.
Will this be Murray’s last Australian Open set? After that memorable win against Berretini, it would be a big disappointment to play in two sets here.
Updated at 13.34 GMT
Vondrousova 6-1, 4-5 Zaber
In women’s singles, Vondrousova served to stay in the second set against Jabert at Rod Laver Arena.
Kokkinakis takes the second set against Murray! 4-6, 6-7 (4)
Murray is not playing badly. But Kokkinakis is in outstanding form. He smashes an ace down the middle to win the second set decisively. Kokkinakis taps his forehead with an index finger as he looks at his team in the stands. The crowd makes a LOT of noise. Murray is also a big favorite here and I think they’ll be quite happy to see one of those players go up against Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round. But the Australian is on his way at the moment.
Updated at 13.30 GMT
On the Eurosport mic, Simon Reid asks: “We all knew how good Kokkinakis was… but did we really think he was that good?
“That’s the best I’ve ever seen him play,” co-commentator Joe Dury replies.
Updated at 13.25 GMT
Tiebreak in the second set! Murray 4-6, 6-6 (2-3) Kokkinakis
On the first point after serving, Murray breaks up a crushing baseline exchange with a superb forehand into the corner… he sets up a regulation chance with a volley at the net, but misses it and it’s a mini-break for Kokkinakis to start. Dear?
Murray has a chat with the ref after going 2-0 up and laughs dismissively about something, I’m not sure what – he must have contested a line somewhere. Kokkinakis soon hit a 200km/h serve down the middle for 3-0.
A bit of luck allowed Murray to parry a volley after his two-handed backhand bounced off the top of the net. Big serve from Murray and 3-2 for the Australian.
Updated at 13.23 GMT
Tiebreak in the second set! Murray 4-6, 6-6 Kokkinakis
Kokkinakis makes it 40-0, but an unforced error allows Murray a moment.
No matter, the home hope wins the next point and we’ll have a tiebreaker to decide the second set.
Updated at 13.19 GMT
Ruud (2), Davidovich Fokina (30), Zverev (12), Schwartzman (23), Fritz (8), Carreno Busta (14), Van de Zandshulp (32) and of course Nadal (1) are the seeded players in the draw in men who are eliminated in the second round. It is opening.
Murray 4-6, 6-5 *Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Murray wins the game thanks to a lucky shot that sneaks over the net, but it’s 40-15 and he’s in control.
Kokkinakis must serve and try to force a tiebreak.
Some US news hot off the press:
Thanks Tom. Well, well, well. This is shaping up to be another classic Murray clash, especially if the five-time finalist can hold serve here and force Kokkinakis to serve to stay in the set…
Updated at 13.10 GMT
*Murray 4-6, 5-5 Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Murray breaks after a brilliant game that brought out the best of both. Kokkinakis pushes Murray wide and forces a backhand return into the net – he’s fully regained his dominance now, and a smashing forehand after a strong second serve makes it 30-0. However, Murray digs deep and produces a good two-handed shot down the line.
But Kokkinakis fought back with another strong serve to secure two set points. Murray makes a smart save on the first one, getting close to the net and causing a return to the net. And then saves the second with a crosscourt forehand strike. The first time he took his opponent to deuce in this set. A brilliant return then set up his first break point of the match.
Kokkinakis saves this break point after a magnificent rally from both players, which ultimately ends with Murray powerless to do anything but net. A ferocious forehand then sets up set point No. 3. Murray saves again, after another superb exchange, with a lovely lob. The Australian then double-faults to give Murray another break point. This time he converted after Kokkinakis sent a forehand wide. Amazing stuff.
And with that, I’ll hand you back to Luke
Andy Murray struggles with this. Photo: Carl Recine/Reuters
Updated at 13.17 GMT
Murray 4-6, 4-5 Kokkinakis* (*denotes next server)
Kokkinakis breaks to love and is on the verge of making it two sets! A lucky net rope gives Kokkinakis the first point, despite a soft serve from Murray, and the Aussie bosses the second as well, Murray eventually scoring with a backhand. He struggled on his first serves and Kokkinakis made him pay, dominating the next rally and settling it with an emphatic volley at the net to win three break points. He takes the first of these when Murray hits long at the end of another rally defined by Kokkinakis’ powerful opening return.
*Murray 4-6, 4-4 Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Kokkinakis is holding on to love, just as we think Murray could become more competitive and his opponent more erratic. A blistering forehand winner from Kokkinakis sends it his way. Next comes the 10th ace. Murray does well to stay in the next rally but has no answer to a crosscourt forehand winner from the Aussie. Nor to be directed to the back of the court the next point. Categorical detention.
Murray 4-6, 4-3 *Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
It was Kokkinakis’ turn to err at the end of a long rally as a miscued forehand wide of the tramline gave Murray a 30-0 lead, but he redeemed himself with a stunning forehand return down the line. A decent serve from Murray helps him reach 40-15 and some expert volleys give the Scot the game.
Jaber really struggled and lost the first set to Vondrousova 6-1.
Ons Jaber plays a backhand against Marketa Vondrousova. Photo: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images
Updated at 13.30 GMT
*Murray 4-6, 3-3 Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Murray looks comfortable at the opening point of the game, but overshoots a crosscourt backhand to spoil it all. Another Kokkinakis ace makes it 30-0. The Australian then curls a forehand incredibly wide and another mistake – this time a forehand to the net – makes it 30-30. It’s a chance for Murray… but he squanders it with a soft forehand into the net after a decent rally. A similarly frustrating moment follows after another competitive exchange ends with a backhand into the net. We are left with serving.
Vondrousova, meanwhile, already leads 4-1 against Jaber.
Updated at 12.45 GMT
Murray 4-6, 3-2 *Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Murray is actually playing decently here, even if second-best so far, and is holding on to love. The Scot went 30-0 up on his serve and then pushed Kokkinakis enough to force him into the net, a magnificent forehand down the line ending a morale-boosting hold. His competitive energy remains something of a wonder after all these years.
Updated at 12.40 GMT
*Murray 4-6, 2-2 Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Another Kokkinakis hold – I just can’t see him breaking right now. Murray sloppily hits a backhand return and reprimands himself in familiar style. A brutal ace from Kokkinakis, his eighth, then dunked him, but he netted at the end of a long rally for 30-15. Murray showed some athleticism to return Kokkinakis’ corresponding forehands and volleys, but failed to get the third such shot over the net and Kokkinakis dominated the next point to hold.
Murray 4-6, 2-1 *Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Murray dominated the first long rally, then canceled it all out with a soft drop shot at the net. A good wide first serve restored parity before a brilliant rally, featuring Kokkinakis reaching several near-impossible returns, was finally won by a Murray volley at the net. A beautiful Murray backhand down the line takes it to 40-15 as he tries to cheer on his fans amid a raucous crowd. He then lobs a forehand into the net before settling the game with a strong first serve.
Marketa Vondrousova has already broken Ons Jabeur, leading 2-0 in the first set. Injury catching up with the Tunisian?
*Murray 4-6, 1-1 Kokkinakis (*denotes next server)
Kokkinakis holds again, of course he does. Kokkinakis curled a forehand wide of the tramline after another rally marked by the Australian’s power and athleticism. He quickly made up for it with an unanswered ace down the middle for 15-15. Another backhand error from Murray’s deft return gives the Scot an opening which Kokkinakis closes with two strong serves for 40-30. It’s another holdup after all.
Jabeur vs. Vondrousova is underway.
Murray 4-6, 1-0 Kokkinakis* (*denotes next server)
Strong hold by Murray. Yet again Murray is dragged all over the court on his own serve and Kokkinakis makes him pay with a low flat forehand winner….
Add Comment