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AAP
AAP
Sport
Oliver Caffrey and Melissa Woods

Kokkinakis wins after marathon Open delay

Thanasi Kokkinakis has set up a blockbuster showdown with Andy Murray at the Australian Open after wrapping up his rain-delayed first-round clash with Italian Fabio Fognini.

The Australian was just five points away from victory, up 15-40, when play was stopped on Tuesday night at the roofless Kia Arena.

Rain continued for the majority of Wednesday, with play not beginning on outside courts until into the evening.

When Kokkinakis finally got back on court just after 8.30pm, he completed the 6-1 6-2 6-2 victory in a matter of minutes.

It sets up a tantalising second-round clash with a resurgent Murray, a five-time Australian Open finalist.

The Scottish veteran overcame another Italian, upsetting 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in a five-set battle on Tuesday.

The veteran eliminated his highly rated opponent 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-7 (7-9) 7-6 (10-6) in a four-hour, 49-minute thriller.

It was the 35-year-old's first win over a top-20 rival at a major since he downed then-world No.9 Kei Nishikori at the 2017 French Open.

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