'No way': Tennis world in disbelief over 'incredible' anomaly
Fans and commentators were left stunned on Wednesday night over an extraordinary anomaly during Andy Murray's match at the Sydney Tennis Classic.
Murray set up a quarter-final showdown with David Goffin after beating World No.23 Nikoloz Basilashvili in a three-set epic.
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Murray had to do things the hard way after blowing a set point in the opening set, but dug deep to secure the 6-7 (7-4) 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 win that ended up finishing after midnight.
Basilashvili unleashed a series of outrageous winners throughout the match, forcing Murray to defend for long periods.
But Murray's class shone through when it mattered most, with the World No.135 securing the win in three hours and 13 minutes.
There was an extraordinary moment in the second set tiebreak when a Basilashvili serve hit the net cord before rebounding off the net post and back into the service box.
What looked certain to be a fault turned into a bizarre let after the double rebound.
"No way," the TV commentator said. "That's incredible."
"You won't see that again for about five years. That is insane."
Scott Morrison wishes he could pole that well.
Amirite fellas, amirite? Fellas? FELLAS!?— Antigen man (@Budulnya) January 12, 2022
Yep, but it's a fault, not a let.
— Michelangelo Sottili (@Michelangelo451) January 12, 2022
Looks like @ShaneWarne is hiding under the turf .
— Rangbaaz (@Rangbaaz1988) January 12, 2022
Shot of the year
— Jure Rako (@Jure2711) January 12, 2022
Andy Murray winds back the clock with epic victory
Murray was pleased to come away with the win against one of the tour's cleanest hitters.
"It was an unbelievably tough match," Murray said in his on-court interview.
"He's hitting the ball consistently bigger than anyone on tour.
"It's tough, because sometimes you feel like you've done the right thing, and then he hits a huge winner up the line on the run.
"I was having to do a lot of defending, a lot of running. My legs stood up well. I served really well in the last set. I would have liked to have got that first set, I had a number of chances there."
Murray cut a frustrated figure after letting the opening set slip through his fingers.
The 34-year-old was serving for the set at 5-3 before being broken, and he also failed to convert a set point on Basilashvili's serve the next game.
Murray then coughed up a 3-1 lead in the tiebreak.
The frustration continued to build after the three-time major winner wasted three set points in the second set.
But he came good in the breaker, and then ran away with the match in the third set.
Murray boasts a 6-0 head-to-head record against World No.45 Goffin, but they haven't met since 2018.
with AAP
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