Andy Murray Leads Stefanos Tsitsipas At Wimbledon, Curfew Ends Thursday Play | ATP Tour | Tennis

Andy Murray will return to courtroom on Friday needing yet another set to achieve the third spherical at Wimbledon for simply the second time since 2017. The Scot was main World No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-4 on Thursday when play was suspended for the day on Centre Court docket at 10:38 p.m. The choice was made to cease the match given {that a} conclusion earlier than the 11 p.m. curfew was not possible.

With a raucous crowd watching on, little might separate two-time champion Murray and Greek Tsitsipas as they went blow for blow in a blockbuster second-round conflict below the Centre Court docket roof.

Tsitsipas struck his forehand with damaging energy all through the 2 hours and 53 minutes they spent on courtroom, however Murray grew because the match went on. After dropping the primary set, the previous World No. 1 confirmed nice motion and struck his groundstrokes with extra aggression within the second and third units to finish the day forward.

There was one second of fear for Murray within the remaining recreation of the third set, although. The Scot fell and clutched his groin whereas serving for the set, however returned to his ft and sealed the set on the next level. The previous World No. 1 might want to look at any lingering penalties of the autumn in a single day.

Murray and Tsitsipas are locked at 1-1 of their ATP Head2Head collection, with the Greek successful their earlier main assembly on the US Open in 2021. The winner will play Laszlo Djere within the third spherical after the Serbian defeated #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(5) 6-3.

Murray holds a 61-12 report at Wimbledon and is a two-time champion, having triumphed in 2013 and 2016. When he returns on Friday, he’ll intention to earn his maiden High 5 win of the season and first since June 2022, when he beat Tsitsipas on grass in Stuttgart. The Scot can also be aiming to turn into simply the eighth man within the Open Period (since 1968) to earn 200 Grand Slam match wins.

Tsitsipas, who clawed previous Dominic Thiem in 5 units within the first spherical, is making an attempt to achieve the third spherical at Wimbledon for the third time. His finest outcome got here in 2018 when he superior to the fourth spherical.

In a high-quality first set, Murray and Tsitsipas went blow for blow, with each gamers providing little alternative to their opponent on serve. Tsitsipas was the extra aggressive of the 2, hitting 21 winners within the set in comparison with 11 from Murray, however the Scot confirmed good motion to hold in rallies.

After Murray saved a set level on serve at 5-6 with a forehand that clipped the road, Tsitsipas gained management within the tie-break. The World No. 5, demonstrated good footwork to dictate with the forehand, overpowering Murray to maneuver forward.

Murray responded within the second set, although. He hit his watertight groundstrokes with depth and locked in in the course of the tie-break, committing simply two unforced errors within the set to degree. The Scot raised his fist to the air when he walked again to his chair, embracing the roar from the house crowd.

The previous World No. 1 then clinched an early break within the second set and confirmed his preventing spirit, saving two break factors on serve at 2-1 to keep up his momentum. The Scot was sturdy on serve and after taking a tumble, transformed his second set level of the third set to guide.