Andy Murray and Thanasi Kokkinakis went where no athlete should be asked and faced each other on the court to play the 388th point of their second round at the Australian Open.
It was 4.05am, five hours and 45 minutes on the clock when the 35-year-old Scot dug deep one last time, uncorking a backhand winner past the desperate Australian.
Never before has he had to resort to such physical resources to win a match, even on the 10 previous occasions when he came back after two sets.
Andy Murray emerged from the wreckage of a remarkable five-hour epic at 4:05am in Melbourne
The two men hugged at the net and the hardened 1,500 souls rose, even the locals who had roared themselves hoarse to support the brilliant Kokkinakis, 26, the reigning doubles champion at the tournament.
Murray had just enough energy to answer a few facetious questions from the on-site interviewer, John Fitzgerald. “I have a big heart,” he said in an early contender for understatement of the year. “You have everything,” Fitzgerald said, and Murray had the sanity to reply, “My wife doesn’t say that.”
Having room for everything in his head at that ridiculous hour was just another marvel of another amazing night in the career of someone who simply refuses to disclose everything.
The Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis had led to zero with two sets and seemed to be heading towards victory
Murray seemed to have trouble keeping up with his much younger opponent early on
He soon walked away, with a limp that accompanied the draining of the adrenaline that had carried him through. Not far behind was coach Ivan Lendl, who was usually present when Murray performed his greatest feats. Lendl is usually about to get up for his golf practice at this time of day, but this was his last shift with his employer.
“It was amazing, an absolutely brilliant performance. I’m so proud of him, but honestly a bit speechless,” said Lendl before slipping into the dressing room.
Somehow Lendl and the rest of Murray’s team have to turn him around for a third round against Roberto Bautista Agut, the No. 24 who never falters an inch.
It was the same player the Scot faced here four years ago when persistent hip problems made him think it was all over. The tournament was so sure of this that they lined up their peers to pay tribute.
This year the draw has indeed started in Murray’s quarters, although it will certainly be difficult to capitalize on after so much has been taken from him.
Remember, this was the follow-up to another exceptional game on Tuesday as Matteo Berrettini was ousted in the fifth set tiebreak. This match lasted four hours and 49 minutes so leg mileage is an issue.
Between changes, he appeared dismal at times as he struggled to stay in the game
The match featured rallies that Murray eventually defended well before falling
The man should never be written off, however, for he has both granite in his soul and metal in his waist.
This match was bewildering and brilliant, played in circumstances that tennis – in truth – says needs to do but never gets around to changing.
It is noteworthy that there were no rain delays, unlike Wednesday when Cam Norrie finished at 1:28 am. This last night was just the result of a crowded schedule and the fact that the balls are slower, especially when temperatures drop.
The last goal of 4:34 at Melbourne Park in 2008 was never really in jeopardy, but Jo Konta’s 3:12 finish in 2019 would certainly be surpassed. That was guaranteed before Murray surpassed his previous record of five hours and seven minutes, the Davis Cup epic against Juan Martin del Potro in 2016.
Boosts of energy came at times for both players and incredibly some of the tennis was at its highest level early in the decider. The Aussie moved to 5-4 and came to Deuce, helped by a fluky netcord.
The Brit turned back the years to host a master class in never-sag-die tennis in the wee hours of the morning
Both players showed occasional frustration, with both seemingly baffled at how the match dragged on for so long
Still, Murray held him off and then created three break points of his own at 5-5, answered with big serves before a rare forehand. The flawlessness in the grueling conditions was unworldly.
Finally, the two-time Wimbledon champion found a forehand at the fourth break point that ripped past Kokkinakis and allowed him to serve as the clock struck 4am.
The Aussie had made a nonsense of his mistakenly deflated 159 in the rankings because he’s a lot better than that with his sweet ball bouncing off the ground and booming serve.
Injuries have slowed the career of someone who beat Roger Federer at the age of 21 and who has a huge artillery capable of penetrating the pitch in the cold night air.
Kokkinakis had to regret a series of missed opportunities when he criminally let Murray back in
Murray suffered from the huge forehand of his opponent, who is best friend and doubles partner of Nick Kyrgios, with whom he has a lot in common except in stamina.
Kokkinakis was much sharper in the opener and with Murray struggling to neutralize his forehand, he took the first tie break after Midnight came and went.
Still, Murray resisted and equalized early in the third set when he played one of the biggest points of his career, sending up four defensive lobs that eventually drew an error from his opponent.
Kokkinakis still served up to make it 5-3, but tightened within sight of the winning post and was easily broken. When the second tiebreak came he was within two points of the game but then made a hash of an overhead to send it into a fourth with already three hours and 29 minutes on the clock.
They put their in-game differences aside when the two shattered men embraced at the end of the epic
Murray’s strategy now was to attack the net much harder, and his penetration success rate was over 80 percent. He drew to 5-2 but found himself in danger when Kokkinakis caught a fourth or fifth wind.
He held off the late challenge just to end it and then let referee Eva Asderaki-Moore breathe for using up his two bathroom breaks.
“I respect the rules but it’s so disrespectful to us that the tournament has us out until 3am and doesn’t even allow us to go for ap*** you know it’s a joke,” Murray said.
Luckily, there seems to be no limit when it comes to gory determination.