Australian Open hero Andy Murray was in a joking mood in the wake of one of the biggest wins of his career on Thursday.
After ousting the highly fancied Matteo Berrettini from the first round of the Melbourne major, the 35-year-old added Thanasi Kokkinakis to his list of victims in the second round. However, Thursday's triumph was that much more special after the veteran came back from two sets down to topple one of the home favourites 4-6, 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5.
The match didn't come to a close until 4 a.m. local time, which might have been just as well given his post-watershed humour in the post-match interview. And wife Kim Sears may not have been all that impressed after she was roped into the comedy.
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Asked by former doubles star John Fitzgerald just how he completed such a turnaround, Murray attributed the achievement to his "big heart." When Fitzgerald retorted that Murray 'has a big everything,' the third-round qualifier joked back: "I'm not sure my wife would agree with that!"
Although one can't speak for Murray's spouse of almost eight years, most under the roof at Rod Laver Arena would likely attest to the size of the Scot's cojones. After all, it took great guts and determination to battle back from the brink in what was the longest match of his career to date.
While there are bigger tests to come than Kokkinakis, Murray looked back to his Grand Slam-winning best at times during Thursday's showdown. The roof almost came off Rod Laver Arena when the Briton won one exhausting rally to clinch a vital break point in a decisive third set.
That was an even more considerable feat considering Kokkinakis' origins, and the Australian reacted to the point loss by smashing his racquet into the floor. That proved the turning point in the end, and Murray advances to face Roberto Bautista Agut in the next phase.
"I'm aware I don't look particularly happy when playing but I'm at my happiest on the inside," added the two-time Wimbledon winner. "I've always loved competing and always showed my emotions when I've played. I've been criticised a lot for it over the years but that's who I am."
He went on to thanks those in attendance for sticking out the match before insisting it was time to go home: "Thanks so much to everyone for staying. It's ridiculously late. You didn't need to do that but it really helps me and Thanasi when we have all of you creating an amazing atmosphere. I think we should all get off to bed now."
