SNAPSHOT FROM DAY TWO OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN AT MELBOURNE PARK
PLAYER OF THE DAY: Andy Murray – the Scottish braveheart secured his first win over a top-20 rival at a grand slam in virtually six years when he downed 2022 Australian Open semi-finalist Matteo Berrettini in a five-set epic.
STAT OF THE DAY: Australian Kimberly Birrell snapped a 1462-day grand slam drought by coming from a set all the way down to topple No.31 seed Kaia Kanepi. The 24-year-old was solely at Melbourne Park after being gifted a wildcard entry initially put aside for legendary veteran Venus Williams.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “I definitely need to cool down,” fifth-seeded Aryna Sabalenka stated because the mercury in Melbourne soared and play was suspended on exterior courts. Sabalenka’s first-round win got here in simply 69 minutes nevertheless it was sufficient to really feel the results of the warmth.
TOURNAMENT SUMMARY: Murray’s heroic win breathed life again right into a event reeling from the absence of Nick Kyrgios, Ash Barty, Naomi Osaka, Serena and Venus Williams, Roger Federer and injured world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz. High temperatures pressured play to be halted on exterior courts for nearly three hours, with the delays that means many matches will push into Wednesday morning. The day started with controversy when Tennis Australia slapped a ban on spectators bringing Russian and Belarusian flags into Melbourne Park resulting from a courtside incident on Monday.
