Three-time grand slam winner Andy Murray is back at the Australian Open for the first time since 2019, and it ended successfully in the opening match.
But it took its time.
Murray, ranked 113th in the world, could only rejoice after 3 hours and 55 minutes.
Won ten straight points
Nikoloz Basilashvili, Georgia, forced a decisive set after equalizing to 2-2 after a tiebreak.
But then the Scottish veteran picked up the championship pace when he won ten straight points and went up to 3-0 in the game in the fifth set.
Many probably thought it was the nail in the coffin, but Basilashvili had answers to speeches and came back to 4-4.
In the end, Murray still secured the victory by winning the two final games.
Has been in five finals
Thus, he is ready for the second round where the Japanese Taro Daniel, ranked 120th in the world, is waiting.
Murray has reached the final in Melbourne five times - but never won.
He has been plagued with injury concerns for several years and has only participated in the tournament twice in the last five years.
- It is fantastic!
It has been three or four tough years and I have had to work hard to get back here.
I have played on this course many times and have always received fantastic support.
This is where I thought I played my maybe last match three years ago, so I could not have wished for anything more, he said on the court after the match.
3-0 to Medvedev
Russia's world number two Daniil Medvedev took a planned victory against 91st-ranked Swiss Henri Laaksonen in the first round.
Medvedev won 3-0 in sets (6-1, 6-4, 7-6) after deciding the match in tiebreak.
He went to the final of the Australian Open last year, but then lost to Novak Djokovic.