LONDON: If guts and grit win grand slam titles simply hand the Wimbledon trophy to Andy Murray proper now.
After all it doesn’t work like that although and the Scot should come again on Friday to earn a spot within the third spherical after an epic battle with Greek powerhouse Stefanos Tsitsipas was halted with the clock approaching 11pm native time on Thursday.
The scoreboard below the lights confirmed Murray main the hard-fought contest 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-4.
It had been an enchanting match performed out in a heady Centre Court docket ambiance with nothing to separate twice champion Murray and his flaxen-haired fifth-seeded opponent.
Whisper it quietly, however there have been occasions over the previous 19 years that a lot of the Wimbledon crowd has not at all times discovered it simple to take to the passionate Scot.
In the present day, Murray is nothing wanting a Nationwide Treasure, having famously ended Britain’s 77-year look ahead to a house males’s singles champion in 2013, and the Centre Court docket crowd roared their appreciation all through within the chill of London’s night.
The youthful man by a dozen years, Tsitsipas has by no means obtained previous the fourth spherical in 5 earlier visits and regardless of his younger legs – and Murray’s metallic hip – it was the Scot who seemed extra comfy transferring across the slick floor.
There was so little or no to decide on between the 2 combatants within the opening set – simply two factors separated them, Murray successful 37 factors and Tsitsipas 39.
However the Greek gained once they mattered because it got here to an almost-inevitable tiebreak.
Considered one of his 21 clear winners in that opening set got here to punch by way of Murray’s defences for a 4-3 lead within the tiebreak.
Two factors later he held three set factors at 6-3, and transformed on his first by out-manoeuvring the Scot to take a one-set lead after simply shy of an hour’s play.
Time and time once more through the years, although, Murray has proven he’s hewn from granite and he slugged toe-to-toe with the youthful man.
The clock ticked, the video games rolled over and as soon as once more the set entered a tiebreak and this time Murray was to not be denied, levelling the match with a roar and an air-punch and Centre Court docket jumped to its ft.
The heady ambiance seeping into each cubic inch of the sector hung within the air and when play resumed for a 3rd set Murray broke the mighty Greek serve for the primary time within the match to burst out of the gates into an early lead.
It was one he wouldn’t relinquish and at 10:38pm he fired a service that Tsitsipas might solely return lengthy.
Murray sat in his seat, checked out his group within the stands and waved his hand in a ‘name it’ gesture because the umpire introduced play could be suspended till Friday.
After all it doesn’t work like that although and the Scot should come again on Friday to earn a spot within the third spherical after an epic battle with Greek powerhouse Stefanos Tsitsipas was halted with the clock approaching 11pm native time on Thursday.
The scoreboard below the lights confirmed Murray main the hard-fought contest 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-4.
It had been an enchanting match performed out in a heady Centre Court docket ambiance with nothing to separate twice champion Murray and his flaxen-haired fifth-seeded opponent.
Whisper it quietly, however there have been occasions over the previous 19 years that a lot of the Wimbledon crowd has not at all times discovered it simple to take to the passionate Scot.
In the present day, Murray is nothing wanting a Nationwide Treasure, having famously ended Britain’s 77-year look ahead to a house males’s singles champion in 2013, and the Centre Court docket crowd roared their appreciation all through within the chill of London’s night.
The youthful man by a dozen years, Tsitsipas has by no means obtained previous the fourth spherical in 5 earlier visits and regardless of his younger legs – and Murray’s metallic hip – it was the Scot who seemed extra comfy transferring across the slick floor.
There was so little or no to decide on between the 2 combatants within the opening set – simply two factors separated them, Murray successful 37 factors and Tsitsipas 39.
However the Greek gained once they mattered because it got here to an almost-inevitable tiebreak.
Considered one of his 21 clear winners in that opening set got here to punch by way of Murray’s defences for a 4-3 lead within the tiebreak.
Two factors later he held three set factors at 6-3, and transformed on his first by out-manoeuvring the Scot to take a one-set lead after simply shy of an hour’s play.
Time and time once more through the years, although, Murray has proven he’s hewn from granite and he slugged toe-to-toe with the youthful man.
The clock ticked, the video games rolled over and as soon as once more the set entered a tiebreak and this time Murray was to not be denied, levelling the match with a roar and an air-punch and Centre Court docket jumped to its ft.
The heady ambiance seeping into each cubic inch of the sector hung within the air and when play resumed for a 3rd set Murray broke the mighty Greek serve for the primary time within the match to burst out of the gates into an early lead.
It was one he wouldn’t relinquish and at 10:38pm he fired a service that Tsitsipas might solely return lengthy.
Murray sat in his seat, checked out his group within the stands and waved his hand in a ‘name it’ gesture because the umpire introduced play could be suspended till Friday.
The break might hardly have come at a greater time for Murray who had simply been wrong-footed and yelped in ache as he slid to the bottom.
Tsitsipas stalked off courtroom whereas Murray collected his bag and the gang roared their appreciation because the night-time conflict ended on a cliff-hanger.
