Andy Murray revels in 'proud' moment as he sees off Matteo Berrettini at Australian Open

Bidding to beat a top-20 player at a grand slam for the first time since his hip problems began in 2017, Murray won the opening two sets before Berrettini fought back to level in a dramatic fourth-set tie-break.

The Italian 13th seed created a match point in the 10th game of the deciding set but dumped a simple backhand into the net with the court wide open and Murray held on to force a deciding tie-break.

A gruelling first point won by the Scot set the tone and Murray, who moved superbly, got the luck his performance deserved with a netcord on his first match point before celebrating a stunning 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-7 (7) 7-6 (6) victory after four hours and 49 minutes.

While such matches would have usually been contested in later rounds in his heyday, this will surely mean almost as much four years after the tearful press conference at Melbourne Park that seemed to herald the end of his career.

“The last few years, I’ve certainly questioned myself at times,” said Murray. “There’s certainly a lot of people who’ve questioned me and my ability, whether I could still perform at the biggest events and the biggest matches.

“I felt very proud of myself after the match. That’s not something that I generally felt over the years at the end of tennis matches.

“I’m proud of the work that I put in the last few months. I trained really, really hard over in Florida getting ready to play here. I’m really proud of how I fought through that match at the end when it could have got away from me, how I played in the tie-break at the end.

“I was impressed with myself, which again is not something … I’m hard on myself usually. Tonight I need to give myself some credit because the last few years have been tough.

“I’ve lost a few of those type of matches in the slams the last couple years, whether that’s the (Stefanos) Tsitsipas match (at the US Open in 2021) or (John) Isner at Wimbledon. That one could have gone the other way tonight, but I stayed strong and I deserved to win.”

The former world No 1 spoke ahead of the match about how much better he was feeling about his game and fitness, and it was evident from the start that this was a different Murray to the player who has scrapped for wins since returning from hip surgery in 2019.

With the roof closed due to extreme heat, Murray was right on his game from the start and took full advantage of a sluggish opening from Berrettini, who made the Wimbledon final in 2021 and the semi-finals here last year and is known as one of the toughest competitors on tour.

Had Murray converted two break points in the fourth game of the third set, he may have been off the court a lot earlier, but Berrettini held on and from there began to play much better, hammering down aces and cranking his big forehand into gear.

The fourth set was decided in a captivating tie-break, where Murray was an inch away from carving out a match point with a diving volley before Berrettini, who had tightened up horribly on two set points, freed himself to take the third.

He looked in control of the decider, his serve untouchable as the pressure gradually increased on Murray, but Berrettini missed his chance.

In the deciding tie-break, the Scot was half way to the 10 points needed before Berrettini got on the scoreboard and, although the Italian threatened to create a grandstand finish, Murray got his moment of fortune.

Dan Evans, meanwhile, revealed he does not wear a cap because of his “big ears” after battling through the heat to defeat Facundo Bagnis.

The British No 2, who struggled with illness in the build-up to the tournament, was scheduled first up on what could be the hottest day of the fortnight.

He toiled for nearly three hours to open up a two-sets-to-one lead against his Argentinian opponent before the temperature threshold was met for a suspension of play that lasted from 2pm and 5pm. On the resumption, 25th seed Evans ensured he was not out on court for longer than was necessary, breaking serve in the seventh game for a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 victory.

Evans was bothered by the sun on his serve from one end and, asked why he did not wear a cap, said: “I’m pretty good in the heat, doesn’t bother me. I have just never worn a hat and I have never liked wearing one. Doesn’t feel comfortable. Big ears, I guess.

“I was obviously very unlucky. I was first (on the schedule), and that’s where the sun was, and it was super bright. I was messing around with the ball toss. That’s probably the reason I lost the second set.

“I never even knew about the rule, to be honest. I came back from the toilet, and then the guy said, ‘You’re going in’. I just knew it was hot. Once the wind stopped, it was horrible. I had won the third. I felt like he was struggling. He was going to the towel a lot at the back of the court. I didn’t feel great going back out. But then I actually played very well.”