Andy Murray dug himself out of a number of holes before defeating Illya Marchenko 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-2 to reach the second round of the Australian Open on Monday.

Top seed Murray conceded a 5-2 lead in a first set in which he landed less than half of his first serves, and was down 4-2 after being broken early in the second at Rod Laver Arena. 

But the Briton rallied, yelling his way through the flat patches before finding his range in the third set as the shadows crept across the centre court.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray will next play Russian qualifier Andrey Rublev as he bids for a maiden title at Melbourne Park after five defeats in the final.

Nishikori digs deep

Kei Nishikori was forced to dig deep to reach the second round with the world No. 5 taken the distance by Russia's Andrey Kuznetsov before eking out a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4, 6-7 (6), 6-2 win.

Japan's Nishikori prevailed after three and a half hours on a baking Hisense Arena, recovering from an early wobble against his Russian opponent that vindicated his call to withdraw from an exhibition event last week to rest a hip injury.

The 27-year-old, who needed medical treatment late in the fifth set, had an encouraging start to the year when he reached the final of a Brisbane warm-up tournament, where he lost to Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov.

Nishikori has long carried Asia's hopes of a first male Grand Slam champion and he will next play Frenchman Jeremy Chardy after the world No. 72 eased into the second round when Spain's Nicolas Almagro pulled out with an injury.

Meanwhile, Romania's Simona Halep became the first seed to be bundled out of the Australian Open when she was beaten 6-3, 6-1 by American Shelby Rogers.

Halep, seeded fourth, also crashed out in the first round at the season-opening Grand Slam last year.

The 25-year-old sought medical advice after the first set but was able to continue in the second though she appeared to be favouring her left knee, flexing it throughout the match.

Rogers, who beat former top-10 player Eugenie Bouchard two weeks ago in Brisbane, sealed victory in 75 minutes when Halep hit a backhand into the net on Rod Laver Arena.

Source :Times Of Oman