Audio By Carbonatix
Britain's Andy Murray produced one of his best performances in recent years to hold off Italian 13th seed Matteo Berrettini and win a five-set thriller in the Australian Open first round.
The 35-year-old Scot looked stunned after completing a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-6) win on Rod Laver Arena.
Murray, who thought hip surgery in 2019 would end his career, saved a match point at 5-4 in the decider.
Dan Evans is also through after beating Argentina's Facundo Bagnis.
The Englishman, seeded 25th, won 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 in a first-round match that was delayed for three hours because of extreme heat in Melbourne.
Former world number one Murray later ensured four Britons would play in the second round - after Emma Raducanu and Cameron Norrie won on Monday - with a memorable victory over last year's semi-finalist Berrettini.
It was Murray's first victory over a top-20 opponent at a Grand Slam since 2017.
After racing 6-1 ahead in the first-to-10 final-set tie-break, Murray secured victory with a forehand which took a huge chunk of the net cord and left Berrettini stranded.
The three-time major champion will play Italian veteran Fabio Fognini or Australia's Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round on Thursday.
"I will be feeling it this evening and tomorrow but right now I'm unbelievably happy and proud of myself," said Murray, a five-time runner-up in Melbourne.
"I've been working to give myself the opportunity to perform in matches like this and against players like Matteo. It paid off tonight.
"I was a bit lucky at the end with the net cord, but it felt like some of the tennis was really good.
"He's an unbelievable player and one of the best competitors."
Evans, 32, will play French veteran Jeremy Chardy next.
The British number two had moved into a two-sets-to-one lead when the players were taken off court as temperatures topped 35C at Melbourne Park.
Cooler conditions when they returned at 5pm local time - after a three-hour break - helped Evans wrap up a 6-4 4-6 6-4 6-4 win.
Latest Stories
-
BoG GHS15.6bn loss: Yesterday’s whistleblowers have become today’s defenders – Oppong Nkrumah
1 hour -
Saudi Arabia to stop funding LIV Golf next season
2 hours -
Oil price hits highest since 2022 after report Trump to be briefed on new Iran options
2 hours -
Adamus Resources Ltd sets record straigh on illegal mining allegations
2 hours -
Man sentenced to death for murder of toddlers at Ugandan nursery
3 hours -
Meta in row after workers who say they saw smart glasses users having sex lose jobs
3 hours -
Arhinful calls for patience and support for Ayew ahead of World Cup
3 hours -
Zanetor Rawlings elected 2nd Vice President of Pan-African Parliament
3 hours -
GIFEC disburses 350 laptops for One Million Coders Program in Upper West Region
3 hours -
2025 BoG GH¢15.7bn loss was a peak, future results expected to improve – Atta Issah
3 hours -
Photos: How fire destroyed everything in the Akosombo GRIDCo Substation control room
3 hours -
Embrace skills training for successful reintegration – YEA HR Director urges inmates
3 hours -
BoG’s GH₵15bn loss does not affect monetary policy – Majority
4 hours -
Minority accuses Majority of attempting to “shift public perception” ahead of BoG’s GH¢15bn publication
4 hours -
Kick Nation secures Ipswich Town trial for Ghanaian youngster Philip Frimpong
4 hours