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 Four half of hours unfold over two days earlier than a packed Centre Court stuffed with hundreds of his closest and loudest mates — Murray began solutions to query after query at his information convention Friday with some variation of that theme.
It was, possible, 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 Club, but additionally is now 36 and with a man-made hip after two operations.
Was it tougher to settle for this 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-Four defeat, given each how shut it was and all he’s been by means of? “I don’t know, to be honest,” 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 stop play after 11 p.m.? “I don’t know, to be honest.” How irritating was it that the competition was placed on maintain for practically 18 hours? “Well, you never know what would have happened.”
Does the participant forward in that circumstance need to preserve taking part in, 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 obviously very disappointed just now. You never know how many opportunities you’re going to get to play here,” Murray mentioned. “The defeats, maybe feel a bit tougher. But, to be honest, every year that Wimbledon’s not gone how I would like, it’s been hard.”
This was his second consecutive exit within the second spherical on the web site of three of his biggest 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 Club in singles in 77 years.
Murray has not been previous the third spherical at any main since getting to the 2017 quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
“I mean, ultimately this was an opportunity for me. I had a good chance of having a proper run for the first time in a long time at a Slam. I didn’t take it,” he mentioned, 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 referred to as it “jarring” and mentioned he felt some “initial pain and discomfort,” however wouldn’t characterise it as an harm and mentioned he was OK when motion resumed Friday.
“It’s never easy against Andy. I know everyone loves him here,” mentioned 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 different two British males left within the bracket, No. 12 Cam Norrie and wild-card entry Liam Broady, had been despatched residence, too. Norrie was defeated by Chris Eubanks of the United States 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.
At night time, Novak Djokovic moved into the fourth spherical as he pursues some extra vital numbers — a fifth consecutive title at Wimbledon; an eighth total there; a 24th from all majors — by making fast work of Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 6-1, 7-6 (5). Djokovic trailed 5-Three within the closing tiebreaker earlier than reeling off the final 4 factors.
No. 7 Andrey Rublev and No. 8 Jannik Sinner additionally each received to the fourth spherical, whereas No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 3 Daniil Medvedev reached the third. The No. 1 lady, Iga Swiatek, made her means into the fourth spherical — she’s by no means been additional on the All England Club — as did No. 4 Jessica Pegula; No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka, two-time champion Petra Kvitova and 2022 runner-up Ons Jabeur moved into the third spherical. But No. 5 Caroline Garcia was a 7-6 (0), 4-6, 7-5 loser in opposition to No. 32 Marie Bouzkova.
Because 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 facet of the stadium blanketed by solar flapped followers with the temperature at 85 levels Fahrenheit (30 levels Celsius).
Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece returns to Britain’s Andy Murray in a males’s singles match on day 5 of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London on July 7, 2023.
| Photo Credit:
AP
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 lead 2-1 and was on his means.
“He’s someone who will make it a marathon, regardless of whether you want it or not,” mentioned Tsitsipas, whose girlfriend and combined doubles accomplice, Paula Badosa, watched from his visitor field after she stopped taking part in throughout her match earlier Friday due to a unhealthy again.
“I had to work extra hard today to get that victory. My legs are sore right now. He made me run left and right, up and down.”
Each participant solely broke the opposite as soon as. Murray’s potential to return is one in every of his many elite expertise, 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 referred to as out by a line decide and chair umpire Aurélie Tourte; a TV graphic replay confirmed the ball really clipped the chalk and may have counted.
“It was right underneath the umpire’s nose,” Murray mentioned.
He’ll in all probability take into consideration that one some extra. He’s additionally possible to take into consideration what else went mistaken in opposition to Tsitsipas.
Murray spoke earlier than the match about having an concept how for much longer he’ll keep on tour.
“I don’t plan to stop right now. But this one will take a little while to get over,” he mentioned Friday. “Hopefully find the motivation again to keep training, keep pushing, try and keep getting better.”
In different phrases, he does not know exactly what the long run holds
