Andy Murray exits Wimbledon with uncertainty after a five-set loss to Tsitsipas

umarkamran June 17, 2024

0 5 5 minutes read

WIMBLEDON — Andy Murray didn’t know.

As he was requested to dissect his loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas within the second spherical of Wimbledon — a rollicking five-setter that lasted greater than 4 1/2 hours unfold over two days earlier than a packed Centre Court docket crammed with 1000’s of his closest and loudest pals — Murray began solutions to query after query at his information convention Friday with some variation of that theme.

It was, seemingly, a verbal crutch, one thing used to collect his ideas earlier than providing a extra full response. It additionally embodied the uncertainty that appears to encompass a former No. 1 participant who owns three Grand Slam titles, two on the All England Membership, but additionally is now 36 and with a man-made hip after two operations.

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Was it more durable to just accept this 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 defeat, given each how shut it was and all he’s been by way of? “I don’t know, to be trustworthy,” Murray’s reply started.

Did the match change as a result of it was suspended Thursday at 10:40 p.m., proper after he’d taken a two-sets-to-one lead, as a result of guidelines forestall play after 11 p.m.? “I don’t know, to be trustworthy.”

How irritating was it that the competition was placed on maintain for practically 18 hours? “Nicely, you by no means know what would have occurred.”

Does the participant forward in that circumstance need to hold enjoying, whereas the participant trailing prefers to cease? “I don’t know.”

Will he return to Wimbledon subsequent 12 months? “I don’t know.”

“I’m clearly very disenchanted simply now. You by no means know what number of alternatives you’re going to get to play right here,” Murray stated. “The defeats, possibly really feel a bit more durable. However, to be trustworthy, yearly that Wimbledon’s not gone how I would really like, it’s been onerous.”

This was his second consecutive exit within the second spherical on the website of three of his best triumphs: the 2012 Olympic gold medal and the 2013 and 2016 Wimbledon championships. His trophy a decade in the past was the primary for a British man on the All England Membership in singles in 77 years.

Murray has not been previous the third spherical at any main since attending to the 2017 quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

“I imply, in the end this was a chance for me. I had a very good probability of getting a correct run for the primary time in a very long time at a Slam. I didn’t take it,” he stated, and bit on the collar of his white T-shirt.

On the purpose earlier than motion was halted Thursday, Murray slipped and fell on the baseline. He known as it “jarring” and stated he felt some “preliminary ache and discomfort,” however wouldn’t characterize it as an harm and stated he was OK when motion resumed Friday.

“It’s by no means straightforward in opposition to Andy. I do know everybody loves him right here,” stated the No. 5-seeded Tsitsipas, a two-time runner-up at majors, together with on the Australian Open in January.

All in all, Friday was tough for the native followers: The opposite two British males left within the bracket, No. 12 Cam Norrie and wild-card entry Liam Broady, have been despatched residence, too. Norrie was defeated by Chris Eubanks of america 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (3), and Broady misplaced to No. 26 Denis Shapovalov of Canada 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 7-5.

In different males’s outcomes, No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Daniil Medvedev reached the third spherical, whereas No. 7 Andrey Rublev and No. 8 Jannik Sinner each bought to the fourth. Novak Djokovic, in search of a fifth title in a row at Wimbledon and eighth general, was scheduled to face Stan Wawrinka within the third spherical later. The No. 1 lady, Iga Swiatek, made her manner into the fourth spherical — she’s by no means been additional on the All England Membership — as did No. 4 Jessica Pegula; 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur moved into the third spherical.

As a result of it was so late by the point Murray and Tsitsipas took the court docket Thursday, the retractable roof was closed. It was open Friday afternoon: After a lot rain earlier within the week, the pale blue sky was unencumbered by clouds, and a few of us sitting on the aspect of the stadium blanketed by solar flapped followers with the temperature at 85 levels Fahrenheit (30 C).

Tsitsipas drew hearty boos when he disputed a ruling in Friday’s second recreation, however he by no means appeared rattled throughout factors. He took the final 4 factors of the fourth-set tiebreaker Friday — simply as he did within the first-set tiebreaker Thursday — then broke early within the fifth to guide 2-1 and was on his manner.

“He’s somebody who will make it a marathon, no matter whether or not you need it or not,” stated Tsitsipas, whose girlfriend and blended doubles companion, Paula Badosa, watched from his visitor field after she stopped enjoying throughout her match earlier Friday due to a foul again. “I needed to work additional onerous at the moment to get that victory. My legs are sore proper now. He made me run left and proper, up and down.”

Every participant solely broke the opposite as soon as. Murray’s means to return is certainly one of his many elite abilities, and he was upset at himself for not managing to do extra injury to the serves coming off the racket of Tsitsipas.

One pivotal second got here with Tsitsipas serving at 4-all, 15-30 within the fourth set. Murray hit a brief, sharply angled backhand return that was known as out by a line decide and chair umpire Aurélie Tourte; a TV graphic replay confirmed the ball truly clipped the chalk and will have counted.

“It was proper beneath the umpire’s nostril,” Murray stated.

He’ll in all probability take into consideration that one some extra. He’s additionally seemingly to consider what else went unsuitable in opposition to Tsitsipas.

Murray spoke earlier than the event about having an thought how for much longer he’ll keep on tour.

“I don’t plan to cease proper now. However this one will take a short time to recover from,” he stated Friday. “Hopefully discover the motivation once more to maintain coaching, hold pushing, try to hold getting higher.”

In different phrases, he doesn’t know exactly what the longer term holds.