Qatar Open 2023: Andy Murray beats Alexander Zverev in Doha three-set thriller to reach quarterfinals

Andy Murray defeated Alexander Zverev (7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5) with great style to reach his first quarterfinal of the year in Qatar. The British player lost the second set after winning the first in 76 minutes, but recovered to win the match in the end in three hours and two minutes. Olympic champions Murray and Zverev squared off once again in a thrilling encounter in 2023, when the British player defeated Lorenzo Sonego by scores of 4-6, 6-1, 7-6. (4). The German, meanwhile, has only competed in three tournaments since suffering an injury during the French Open in 2017. Zverev, this week's sixth seed in Doha, gained a bye into the second round and was He was the first to seize the opportunity when he broke Murray in the third game of the match, seeking to secure another win after beginning the year with a 2-2 record. But the twice-declared former champion broke back right away and held off another break attempt to take a 3-2 lead. The German was able to break and gain the chance to serve for the first set after Murray argued that a shot that was corrected when he was serving at 4-4 had influenced his shot. The world No. 70 was able to break Zverev straight back for the second time in the first set, keeping the score at 5-5, before it was his turn to hold a break point and set point.

The three-time Major winner Murray eventually won the 76-minute set 7-6 after the former world No. 2 was able to cling on and force a tiebreak. Murray was given a critical mini-break because the former world No. 2 was confused by what he believed to be a let call (5). But in set two, it was a different story as Zverev broke and eventually followed it up with a service hold to rush to a 3-0 lead. Murray faced danger once more at 1-4, but he fought back to avoid two further break opportunities and stay in the second set. But, it was short-lived as Zverev broke the 46-time champion twice in the set to end the match It with an overhead victory, winning 6-2 to need a decision. In the third and final set, the former world No. 1 continued to be under pressure, saving a break point in each of his first two service games. After over three hours on the court, Murray found himself pulled to deuce while serving to remain in the match at 4-5 but managed to hold on and take control a game later, creating two break opportunities on Zverev's serve and converting the first to serve for the victory.

When he finished a gruelling 7-6(5), 2-6, 7-5 triumph, Murray was able to secure his place in the round of eight, improving his head-to-head record against Zverev to 3-1. He will now play unexpected quarterfinalist Alexandre Muller, a 26-year-old Frenchman who advanced via qualification and is rated 170th. Murray, who was the focus of two dramatic five-set matches at the Australian Open as well as Monday's three-set match against Sonego, was in yet another protracted thriller. That wasn't the first time in 2023 that he overcame match-point deficits; he also did it to defeat 13th seed Matteo Berrettini in the first round of the Australian Open and Thanasi Kokkinakis in a third-set tiebreaker.Following his most recent completion, the contest became his longest ever. While he continues his recovery from a terrible injury suffered during the French Open semifinal of last year, it also means that Zverev leaves with a dismal 3-2 record for the season thus far. The 25-year-old suffered several ligament tears in his ankle and was later given a bone edoema diagnosis in September, which prevented him from playing for the final seven months of the 2022 campaign.