- Andy Murray [WC] v Nikoloz Basilashvili [21]
- H2H: Murray leads 2-0
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – Andy Murray will begin his Australian Open campaign against Nikiloz Basilashvili in a rematch from their epic second round encounter in Sydney.
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H2H & Match Fundamentals
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Andy Murray [WC] v Nikoloz Basilashvili [21] |
H2H: Murray leads 2-0 |
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Australian Open 2022 |
Melbourne, Australia |
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Hard |
Prize Money: A$90,000 |
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TBC |
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Andy Murray looks to build on reaching his first final since 2019 as he takes on Nikoloz Basilashvili in a rematch from the epic Sydney clash which Murray won in three hours.
Tale of the Tape – Key Stats (2021 – Hard)
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H2H: |
Andy Murray (WR 135) |
Nikoloz Basilashvili (WR 23) |
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Tournament Previous Best |
Finalist (2010, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) |
R3 (2018, 2019) |
|
1st Serve % |
57.8 |
56.3 |
|
Service Games Won % |
83.6 |
76.4 |
|
Break Points Saved % |
64.8 |
57.6 |
|
2nd Serve Return Points Won % |
48.8 |
52.3 |
|
Break Points Converted % |
43.5 |
44.8 |
Murray is the more clinical when closing out service games which proved to be the big difference in their last meeting in Sydney but Basilashvili knows that he won’t need too many opportunities to punish the Brit with his ferocious power as the stats show.
Playing styles and prediction
Basilashvili had an inconsistent 2021 season with his best performance coming at Indian Wells where he reached the final, losing to Cameron Norrie. The Georgian’s aggressive style can either make him unplayable or can be the master of his own downfall as Murray found out in Sydney.
Murray will look to defend well and try to make as many first serves as possible with the match not completely in his control. Neutralising the points and picking his moments to mix things up was something Murray did well in Sydney and it’s expected the same will happen here. The longer the match goes on for, the more it favours Murray and the Brit’s rally tolerance and patience should see him into the next round.
Prediction: Murray in four sets.
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How to Watch/Follow Australian Open 2022
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TV |
Discovery+, Eurosport BBC Radio 5 Live Extra Highlights on BBC Two (from 22 January) |
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Live Stream |
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