Magic from Marinko

THE FIFTH time was the charm for Dandenong North’s Marinko Matosevic, who claimed his first Australian Open win in a five-set epic.
Matosevic, 29, has perennially faced a first-round exit from the grand slam events, but has started to power through the draws and earn his place among the world’s top-100 players after earning second-round berths at the French Open and Wimbledon last year.
Monday night would tip the tables further in Matosevic’s favour after breaking his Australian Open hoodoo.
The world number 81 ensured his first-round form would continue at the first Grand Slam of 2015, as Matosevic rallied to push aside Russian Alexander Kudryavtsev in a comeback triumph that sent the crowd ballistic.
Winning the first set, before dropping the next two, Matosevic smashed through 16 winners to put the Russian on the back foot as he claimed the fourth set 7-5 to level the match.
Earning a match-defining break in the fifth set at 4-3, Matosevic served the final game and when his match-point winning forehand cross-court shot was smashed into the net, the Australian collapsed on the ground in pure joy after finally winning his first match at his hometown Open.
The Dandenong dynamo’s Australian Open run was not fated to last much longer, as it came to an end on Wednesday afternoon.
Facing world number six and reigning Olympic gold medallist Andy Murray, the Brit made light work of Matosevic 1-6, 3-6, 2-6 on Margaret Court Arena in the straight sets victory.