AndyMurray arrives via the Nikoloz Basilashvili thriller to reserve a quarterfinal spot for the Sydney Tennis Classic

Bwelcome and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s live broadcast of Andy Murray’s last 16-year-old match at the Sydney Tennis Classic against Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia.

There is indeed tennis going on around Novak Djokovic’s constant rampage, his Australian Open medial exception and his visa “do they want it or not”.

The Sydney Tennis Classic is the final warm-up ahead of the Australian Open on Monday – and the UK’s biggest live tennis player could reserve a place in the semi-finals by winning Basilwash today.

Yesterday, Britain’s best female player Emma Raducanu was, frankly, a hammer in her match in the same tournament. It was an ego-crushing return to the field for the US Open champion, who experienced his first “bagel set” on tour with a 6-0 6-1 loss to Elena Rybakina, but she remains confident she can “brush off” a crushing defeat where she won just one in the first match of the game in 2022.

Second Britain Murray had an easier time in his round 32 match against Norwegian qualifier Viktor Durasovic, winning 6-3 6-1.

The three-time Grand Slam champion lost in their first match of the season against Facundo Bagnis in Melbourne, but watched a great connection against Durasovic, who was forced by Murray to make several mistakes.

The former world leader has accepted the Australian Open Wildcard, three years after he suspected he may have played his last game because of an impending hip surgery.

Murray, who made a strong run from the baseline above Durasovic, said in his field interview: “It’s really nice to have my Assortment and hopefully I can take it to Melbourne.

“I was hoping to get matches in Melbourne last week, but it didn’t. Fortunately, the tournament organizers agreed to give me a wild card and a chance to play here, and I’m very grateful for that.”