Andy Murray bonds with Frances Tiafoe after Antwerp epic, shares rare post-match chat

WATCH: Murray addresses the European Open crowd after his nearly-four-hour clash with Tiafoe.

Andy Murray has played Grand Slam finals and five-setters but even he says he's never played a match like the one he just had against Frances Tiafoe.

Murray won a high-quality 7-6 (2), 6-7 (9), 7-6 (8) first-round win in three hours and 45 minutes in Antwerp.

''I think it's the first time in my career I've played a match 7-6, 6-7, 7-6," he said courtside. "I think it's the longest three-set match I've played by quite a distance. I'm tired right now, obviously it was an unbelievable battle."

Not only has Murray never played a match like that, he's never had a post-match conversation like he did with Tiafoe following the encounter. The two hugged each other at net, and then had a long conversation off the court.

"In the locker room we had a much more in-depth chat about tennis, not so much the match," Murray told press. "That was kind of rare I would say.

"I think maybe once I've had that conversation… twice... Once was with Melzer at the US Open, I beat him in five sets and we chatted a bit about the match. And then once because we were waiting to speak to the Queen. We were sort of standing next to each other, so we had a chat about the match."

The win was yet another step to where the 34-year-old former No. 1 wants to get back to, though at a cost. "It's great to win such a contest, even if physically, especially on these indoor surfaces that are terrible for the body, I would have preferred it was easier," he was quoted as saying by French-language press in Belgium.

Still, Murray now gets a day off prior to his next round against Diego Schwartzman.

"I'll speak to the team about planning for the day," he said. "I could hit the ball, do some work indoors or just focus on rest and recovery. I'll have to see my condition, once I get up. You never know what it's going to be like the next day."

The three-time Grand Slam champion seems to enjoy playing in Antwerp. In 2019, he won the title to get his first tournament victory since coming back from the hip surgery that almost forced him off tour.

Murray is currently No.172 in the rankings.