On a humid day when play was halted for three hours on most courts, Andy Murray turned back the clock to overcome 13th seed Matteo Berrettini at the Australian Open on Tuesday.

On day two, however, there was controversy off the court since Russian and Belarusian flags were forbidden at Melbourne Park.

Following his suspension and expulsion last year, Novak Djokovic is scheduled to play in the Grand Slam later on Tuesday.

However, the 35-year-old Murray seemed to had the day in the bag as the British player survived match point to upset Italy's Berrettini 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (10/6) in 4 hours and 49 minutes on Rod Laver Arena with the roof closed owing to the high heat.

“I will be feeling this this evening and tomorrow,” the former world number one, who plays with a metal hip after career-saving surgery, said.

“But right now unbelievably happy and proud of myself.

“I’ve put a lot of work into the last few months with my team to give me this opportunity to perform in stadiums like this, in matches like this and against players like Matteo — and it paid off tonight.”

“I did well to get through,” added the three-time major winner, who faces either Fabio Fognini or Thanasi Kokkinakis in round two.

In the men's draw, Andrey Rublev, ranked fifth, defeated Dominic Thiem, the event finalist for 2020, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in temperatures of 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

As he started his comeback from a wrist injury that kept him off the court for nine months over the 2021 and 2022 seasons, former US Open champion Thiem was outplayed.

On outdoor courts, play had to be stopped as the temperature climbed. The three major stadiums—Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena, and John Cain Arena—had their roofs shut.

About three hours later, play began on the outside courts once again.

The men's seeds, like those in the women's draw, were mostly unaffected.

Dan Evans of the United Kingdom, Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria, and Diego Schwartzman of Argentina all advanced to round two.

Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia was beaten by eighth-seeded Taylor Fritz of the United States 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

Due to his views on Covid vaccinations, Serbia's Djokovic was deported on the eve of the Australian Open in 2017.

However, the 35-year-old will be in action when he takes on Spanish opponent Roberto Carballes Baena in his first round and is expected to get a rousing ovation from the Rod Laver Arena fans.

In order to equal current winner Rafael Nadal's record of 22 Grand Slam victories for men, he must win the Australian Open for a record-extending 10th time.

Rafael Nadal, the defending champion, acknowledged he was far from flawless after crushing a player 15 years younger than him to open his quest for a 23rd Grand Slam championship on Monday.

The Spanish top seed defeated British player Jack Draper at the Australian Open with a score of 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 while also committing 46 unforced mistakes.

It extended his win-loss record at Melbourne Park to 77-15 and advanced him into the second round for the 17th time.

He will next take against Mackenzie McDonald, an American who defeated Brandon Nakashima in a thrilling five-set match.

“Super-happy to be back here in Australia one more time. It’s like the 19th season in the professional tour so very excited about this new beginning,” Nadal said after the 3hrs 41mins test in blistering heat on Rod Laver Arena.

“I needed a victory, so that’s the main thing. Doesn’t matter the way. The most important thing today is a victory against a tough opponent.

“We knew it was not going to be perfect… it was not perfect.

“(But) I think I did things well. So satisfied with the victory because that gives me the chance to play again.”

It was a bit of a slog for the 36-year-old Nadal, who had lost six of his past seven matches, including his opening two this year.

Little separated them in a first set notable for a bizarre incident in which Nadal complained one of his racquets had gone missing.

He kept his cool and waited for his chance, which came at 6-5 on Draper’s serve when he earned a set point and converted with a searing cross-court winner.

But Nadal lost focus in the second set as 21-year-old Draper, ranked 38, raised his game and raced to a 4-0 lead before sealing the set.

The Spaniard regrouped and broke early in the third set to move 4-1 in front, winning the long rallies. Draper needed repeated treatment on his upper right leg, but against the odds broke back before Nadal again stepped up.

Draper was clearly struggling, grimacing in pain at times, and Nadal showed no mercy to race through the fourth set to victory.

“I think it’s only cramping what happened at the end to him. Hopefully is nothing important,” said the Spaniard.

“But I think he is in the right position to have a very productive season. I am happy that I was able to win against a great player this afternoon.”

Nadal created history on the same court last year with his five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final.

It saw him claim ownership of the record for most Grand Slam men’s singles titles on 21, ahead of Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

He added a 22nd at Roland Garros, while Djokovic won Wimbledon to move onto 21.

Nadal’s 2022 run in Melbourne came in the absence of nine-time champion Djokovic, who is back this year and begins his campaign on Tuesday.

AFP