Tennis-Indefatigable Murray wins Basilashvili thriller to reach second round

Tennis - Australian Open - Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia - January 18, 2022 Britain's Andy Murray reacts during his first round match against Georgia's Nikoloz Basilashvili REUTERS/James Gourley

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Andy Murray dipped into the depth of his defensive skills to tame big-hitting Nikoloz Basilashvili during a thrilling 6-1 3-6 6-4 6-7(5) 6-4 win on Tuesday to reach the second round of the Australian Open for the first time in five years.

The former world number one, a five-time finalist at Melbourne Park, has seen his ranking plummet since hip surgery in 2019 and long injury layoffs that followed and needed a wildcard into the main draw of this year's tournament.