Andy Murray continued to defy the odds as he came back from two sets down to beat Yoshihito Nishioka 4-6 4-6 7-6(5) 7-6(4) 6-4.
The Brit used his champion instincts and fighting qualities as he came back from two sets down to seal an incredible first round win at the US Open.
Seemingly down, out and tired, Murray managed to create his own energy and outsmart Nishioka as he edged to victory.
His first grand slam win in 20 months means he plays Felix Auger-Aliassime or Thiago Monteiro next.
This was Murray’s first grand slam match since what he’d thought was his last when he lost in the first round at the Australian Open to Roberto Bautista Agut in 2019.
Just like that day, the Brit was facing a player that wasn’t going to give him too many errors in Yoshihito Nishioka.
This proved to be the case in the early stages of the match, with some punishing rallies from both men as they defended the court with some outstanding angles.
However the key difference was that Murray was up against a faster, sharper player in Nishioka, who’s court-coverage was rapid.
It was a decisive element as Nishioka broke in the seventh game with a thumping smash as he looked to take the match to the 2012 champion.
While Nishioka had the speed to cover the net quickly, Murray didn’t and this meant some of his aggressive shot making had ben missing.
A comfortable hold secured the opening set for the world number 49, 6-4 in 48 minutes.
If Murray looked slow with his footwork in the first set, then he looked even slower in the second set as Nishioka continued to punish Murray with some incredible angles and some aggressive shot-making.
Nishioka’s speed forced Murray into 19 unforced errors in the second set as he went 4-0 down in the second set.
There were positives towards the end of the set for the three-time grand slam champion as he began to finish points off at the net and dictate play with his backhand to get one of the breaks back.
However once again Nishioka held firm as he surged into a two sets to love lead.
The third set was started with a similar pattern as Murray lacked urgency and consistent power in his game as Nishioka broke straight away.
However as we all know by now the Brit never gives up and that resilience paid off half way through the third set as Nishioka started to think about the finishing line. A double fault from Nishioka gave the former champion hope as the set was level at 3-3.
As both players slowly raised their quality of play, chances were missed by both men to avoid a tiebreak.
The Brit dug in deep when it really mattered and in the tiebreak forced a couple of unforced errors to seal the third set 7-6(5). Murray started to show his fighting qualities and even with no crowd let out a huge roar.
In the fourth set both players started to create a lot more combinational play on their service game allowing a lot easier service games, limiting opportunities for their opponent.
Murray had a clear game-plan of being aggressive on his serve and only creating opportunities on return when necessary. A grittier and more defiant Murray had now entered the match.
The Brit almost ruined it all in the twelfth game after missing a simple volley but having saved match point, forced yet another tiebreak with some clutch body serves. Again, Murray dominated proceedings in the tiebreak and once again proved why he is one of the greatest fighters in tennis.
This score-line was the same one after four sets against Bautista Agut in his last grand slam match and was hoping this time it wouldn’t end in heartbreak.
At the start of the fifth set it was looking like it was going to after a double fault handed Nishioka the break for a 3-2 lead. An immaculate lob though in the following game secured the break back.
In a set full of momentum changes, Murray eventually prevailed with some aggressive return positioning and incredible angles. The comeback was complete in 4 hours and 39 minutes, proving how incredible the Brit is continuing to defy the odds.
An emotional Murray pondered on what this win means 20 months after seeing a retirement video at the Australian Open in 2019.
After the match, Murray explained the key to the comeback, “Once I got to two sets down I had to start putting the afterburners on and managed to get through,” Murray said in his on-court interview.
“I had to start striking the ball a little bit better. I was hitting the ball a little bit late, tentatively and then I went the other way and made too many unforced errors. I couldn’t get the balance right. I think at the end I started to get the balance right a bit more.
“I think I served well at the end but not so much at the beginning. I had to make a few changes (during the match) that’s for sure. I’ve seen in a couple of his matches that when he had gone up, guys have come back at him and broken back. So I tried to make as many balls as I could in that game and try to turn it around.”