Antwerp Gallery: Andy Murray, Frances Tiafoe produce longest best-of-three clash of 2021 ATP season
The former world No. 1 erased two match points in a final-set tiebreaker, the pair's third of Tuesday, to squeak past the American at the European Open after three hours and 45 minutes.
TC LIVE: Breaking down Murray vs. Tiafoe
When one sees a 7-6, 6-7, 7-6 scoreline in men's tennis these days, a safe assumption is that John Isner or Reilly Opelka are involved.
That wasn’t the case Tuesday in Antwerp. For the record, Isner was home in Dallas as the proud father of newborn baby James ‘Mack’ McKinley and Opelka lost, 6-4, 6-4, to Jenson Brooksby. Rather, that triple tiebreak tussle was the culmination of the longest best-of-three set match on the ATP tour this season presented by Andy Murray and Frances Tiafoe.
Three hours and 45 minutes later, Murray survived a grueling 7-6 (2), 6-7 (7), 7-6 (8) war after saving two match points in the final ‘breaker. For the 34-year-old, he's back in a place dear to his heart—it was in Antwerp two years ago where the former world No. 1 captured his first ATP trophy since having a metal implant inserted in his right hip during a resurfacing procedure.
Whether Murray has anything remaining in the gas tank for his second-round match against No. 2 seed Diego Schwartzman, we’ll soon find out Thursday. But for now, enjoy this set of photos from the instant classic he shared with Tiafoe at the European Open.
