Andy Murray won his first Grand Slam match in nearly two years on Tuesday, roaring back from two sets and a break down to beat Japan's Yoshihito Nishioka in the first round of the US Open.
Murray won crucial tiebreakers in the third and fourth sets en route to a 4-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-4 victory at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The former world No. 1 completed the comeback in four hours and 39 minutes, overcoming a spotty first serve, a slew of unforced errors, and blisters on his foot.
A match of this length and magnitude was once thought to be impossible for the Scotsman. Faced with the possibility of early retirement, Murray underwent career-saving surgery on his right hip and required a metal implant to alleviate the pain.
Murray hadn't played singles at a Grand Slam since the 2019 Australian Open, but he returned to the court Tuesday with the same fighting spirit that made him appointment viewing during his heyday.
He saved match point while down 6-5 in the fourth set with a searing service winer, and though he made 77 unforced errors and committed 13 double faults, the 33-year-old pulled through to record his 10th career win from a two-set deficit.
"They have an ice bath in the locker room and they said it was for emergencies," Murray said, according to BBC Sport. "For me, this is an emergency right now. I'll ask and see if they'll allow me to use the ice bath. If not, I'll try to get back to the hotel as quickly as I can.
"That's by far the most tennis I've played since the Aussie Open in 2019."
