Andy Murray has advanced into the next round of the Australian Open after an epic five-set battle over number 13 seed Matteo Berrettini.
The Scottish tennis star and world number 66 has been somewhat on the periphery of the sport for the past few years due to recurring injury problems but is eyeing up a comeback on this year’s tour, with an opening victory against last year’s semi-finalist going some way to putting a marker down.
It took the 35-year-old nearly five whole hours to see off his opponent, going on to win the match 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7(7), 7-6(10-6), dumping out arguably one of the outside favourites for the tournament behind the likes of Novak Djokovic, who also won on his Australian Open.
As he closed out his fifth and final set with an admittedly fortunate return which just glanced the net on its way over, it was plain to see how knackered the pair of pros were, each looking visibly exasperated as they walked off the court.
Lasting more than three times longer than the average match, the Rod Laver Arena was treated to a truly arduous back and forth, with Murray dropping his third and fourth sets to push the game into a tough-going fifth-set tie-break.
ADVERTISEMENT
With nearly a full decade between them, 26-year-old Berrettini certainly gave him a run for his money and despite commanding the opening two sets, the former world number one had to fight his way back in, managing to keep enough of a foothold to stay in the contest.
Impressive points like this certainly helped. Talk about rolling back the years.
Murray took to Twitter shortly after the gruelling ordeal, writing: “Thanks to everyone for all the kind messages. We left it all out there. Hope you enjoyed the show.”
Not only was this his first win against a top 20 opponent in almost six years — the previous coming against then-number nine-ranked Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinals of the French Open — it was also his biggest scalps since his two hip surgeries.
Looking back to 2019, Murray recently admitted that he was close to calling it quits altogether and is still “one big injury away from retirement“, joking that his diving volley during Tuesday’s match might not have been the best idea either. Nevertheless, the British hopeful clearly isn’t going down without a fight.
ADVERTISEMENT
Now with a metal hip following his most recent ‘resurfacing’ surgery, not to mention being strapped in ankle supports, Murray cut a shade of the bionic man at times but admitted that he was “unbelievably proud” of his comeback following so many injuries.
He went on to confess that he’s questioned himself in recent years, adding that “there’s certainly a lot of people questioned [his] ability” and “whether [he] could still perform at the biggest events and the biggest matches”.
However, he ultimately conceded and gave himself a rare pat on the back while speaking to reporters: “I was impressed with myself, which again is not something I often do. I’m hard on myself usually.”
Against all odds, he continues to fight his way back onto the court no matter the physical obstacles; a graceful Berrettini went so far as to call him a “gladiator”.
The UK roster is already one lighter in the Open after Emma Raducanu sadly existed the ASB Classic in New Zealand with yet another injury of her own, so those watching at home will be hoping their five-time runner-up goes far again this year.
Featured Image — Roland-Garros (via Twitter)/Australian Open (via IG)
Sport
‘Nothing is eternal’: Is Pep Guardiola hinting at the end of Manchester City’s supremacy?
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola looks to have suggested that more than a decade of Manchester City’s supremacy and Premier League dominance at the very least might be coming to an end.
Speaking in his post-match press interviews after City were knocked out of the Champions League by serial European Cup winners Real Madrid, Guardiola cut a somewhat more deflated figure than usual following the 3-1 defeat.
A Kylian Mbappe hattrick which was closed out within an hour of play was enough to stretch the aggregate score to 6-3 over the two legs and Madrid doubling their lead across the tie proved yet again why, not unlike City domestically over the last decade, they’re the kings of the continental competition.
In contrast, however, Pep seemed to accept the loss much more easily than perhaps we’ve seen in the past and rather than appearing familiarly frustrated or defiant in the press conference; instead, he seemed rather reflective, responding to one reporter: “Nothing is eternal”.
🗣️ "Nothing is eternal" – Pep Guardiola.
🔵 Subscribe to our Manchester City page on BBC Sounds for the latest interviews. #MCFC#bbcfootball
Insisting that they have to decide whether a significant rebuild is needed to keep competing at the very top level consistently as they have done since the 54-year-old arrived back in 2016, he argued that it is only with that they’ll be able to determine what comes next.
As for the result itself, he made no bones about Carlo Ancelotti’s side having “deserved it”, stating simply that “the best team won” and that fans and players alike have to “accept the reality: they were better.”
Having been a familiar foe for Pep long before he arrived in Manchester, both at Barcelona and Bayern Munich – not to mention City having faced Los Blancos a dozen times before Tuesday night since 2012 – there have been less surprising outcomes for supporters to come to terms with.
“With time, the club and everyone is going to accept what it is but for now we have 30/40 games for the Premier League next season to try and be here [in the Champions League] and to improve. Nothing is eternal”, said the Catalan coaching genius.
On the other hand, he also went on to add that it was merely a reflection on the night itself and not what his team have achieved in recent years.
He went on to remark that “when we were playing outstanding it hurt more” to be knocked out of the UCL when he felt they deserved to stay in it, but still insisted: “We have been unbelievable and we have to try step by step to get better from today.” Tonight just wasn’t the night.
Who knows? Perhaps it was just some more melodrama from a manager with an undeniable flare for pageantry and playing into/in the face of narratives when he doesn’t come out on top – which hasn’t happened all that often until their dip in form this season.
Plus, there’s certainly still plenty for him and the fans to be positive about; not only has the arrival of their ‘Egyptian Prince’ and the media’s Mo Salah successor, Omar Marmoush, got plenty of people excited – especially after that first-half hattrick against Newcastle – but so too have the other January signings.
In fact, for all of his downplaying in this particular presser (which you can hear in full HERE), it felt like there were only upsides after their victory over Newcastle, even going so far as to dub new signing Nico Gonzalez a ‘mini-Rodri‘.
You can watch the highlights from the game down below:
Pep is right, nothing is eternal – but sometimes you just come up against talents like Mbappe and there’s very little anyone can do about it.
Sale Sharks sign highly-rated Harlequins hooker, Nathan Jibulu
Danny Jones
Sale Sharks are investing in youth with their latest bit of transfer business after signing one of the Harlequins’ hottest prospects, Nathan Jibulu.
The highly-rated hooker, who has already nine appearances this season, including more than half a dozen in the Gallagher Premiership, has been exciting plenty of scouts throughout rugby union and is already firmly in national team plans.
Having already been part of the England Under-20 and A squads, not to mention impressing at club level in a relatively short space of time, it’s a big coup for Sale.
From the Quins academy to the right side of Shark-infested waters.
Jibulu joined the Twickenham-based outfit back in 2022 just a year after they won their second English championship (a full decade since their first) after previously attending Seaford College and representing nearby Wimbledon Warriors.
However, now the six-foot and seriously strong forward will be swapping the life near the capital for the North and Greater Manchester, specifically.
Set to join Sale Sharks for the 2025/26 season – scheduled to kick off in September – he’s looking like a really strong addition to their front row and a future squads to come.
Speaking to the club in an official statement, he said: “When I was younger, whenever someone asked me, ‘what team would you want to play for?’ I’d always say Sale…
“I’ve scrummed a lot with Asher [Opoku-Fordjour] and I got to know him pretty well. I always tell him how special and different he is, and I can’t wait to play with him.
“The way the club has developed him and nurtured him to become an established Premiership and England player speaks volumes about the coaching and the support that he’s getting at Sale.
“The entire front row is in the England squad, with the Curry boys too, so that tells you that someone at the club is doing something right. I looked at that and I said, ‘why would you not want to be there?’”
Still just 22 years old and having made just as many appearances for his soon-to-be former club, Sale weren’t the only ones chasing his signature.
Jibulu went on to add: “I love those games where you go toe-to-toe physically, so all of that attracted me straight away, and then speaking to people who are there already, they said all the stuff that I really like so it was a no brainer when the opportunity came about.”
As for his impending coach, Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson said: “Nathan is really driven, he understands what he wants from his life and his career, and he knows how he’s going to get it.
“He’s a young lad but he’s incredibly mature and he’s got the game and the physical attributes to match. I’ve got no doubt he’ll play for England in the future and we’re really excited to bring him to the club.”
Currently sat seventh in the table after another at times promising but somewhat frustrating start to the year, the summer can’t come soon enough for Sale.
Danny Jones -
17th January 2023 
