Andy Murray's nearly six-hour epic against Thanasi Kokkinakis was one of the most incredible Australian Open matches ever, and Kokkinakis revealed how Murray acted in the locker room afterward.
After developing a severe hip injury in 2017, Murray was never the same player. The three-time Grand Slam champion did not come close to challenging for the most significant tournaments afterward.
However, the Briton's stubbornness and superb mentality meant he refused to give up. After undergoing a hip resurfacing operation, he battled on for several more years, competing admirably despite being not being as athletic as he was in his prime.
Murray eventually retired at this year's Olympics. He had been dreading that moment, but the 37-year-old subsequently admitted he does not miss tennis as much as expected.
Nick Kyrgios, who won the 2022 Australian Open men's doubles title with Kokkinakis, recently stated he did not want to end his career like Murray and questioned whether all the pain the two-time Wimbledon champion went through was worth it.
However, having the courage to continue for so long led to Murray producing some terrific moments. He won the final title of his career and first since having the hip resurfacing done at the 2019 European Open in Antwerp, beating old rival Stan Wawrinka in the final.
But the most iconic match Murray played in the final few years of his career was in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open against Kokkinakis. That contest showed what an incredible fighter Murray remained despite being past his prime.
The home favorite looked to be sailing into the next round after going 6-4, 7-6 up. Kokkinakis' forehand and serve were firing, and his older opponent struggled to cope at that stage of the match.
Incredibly, after five hours and 45 minutes on the court, Murray prevailed 4-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-3, 7-5. The pair's titanic battle finished at 04:05 am and was the longest match of the five-time Australian Open runner-up's iconic career.
Speaking on the Tennis Brothers YouTube Channel, Kokkinakis remembered what Murray did in the locker room while he sat devasted after losing such a lengthy match at his home Grand Slam.
"That was a rough one. I was playing great, felt really good, two sets to love up, a break up in the third, I got nervous. He started playing super aggressive, played to all hours of the night, an incredible match."
"He’d just finished his ice bath, I was like, I’m not recovering, because I’m not going to have another match for a while, so I was sitting there shattered. He hobbled over to me, he gave me a big hug and embrace, and that was a pretty special moment."
Although he had an incredible career, Murray also suffered some brutal defeats. The two-time Olympic gold medalist understood what Kokkinakis was going through, and that gesture to his devastated opponent showed true class.
Murray's time as a professional tennis player is over, but the memories from his incredible matches, during which he showed such a fighting spirit, will never be forgotten.