Despite giving everything to prepare for Tuesday's start, two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray withdrew from singles! The 37-year-old had been battling against time after undergoing a procedure to remove his spinal cyst.
Andy trained at Wimbledon until Monday before deciding to withdraw and focus on the doubles duties with his brother Jamie. Murray should have met Tomas Machac at Centre Court later on Tuesday, but the crowd will not get a chance to see its hero one more time.
Thus, Andy will wrap up his Wimbledon journey with a 61-13 score, lifting trophies in 2013 and 2016. The home hero reached ten consecutive quarter-finals between 2008 and 2017 before injuries ruined his career, missing his home Major in 2018 and 2019.
Murray claimed only four Wimbledon wins in the previous three years, losing to Denis Shapovalov, John Isner and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Andy defeated Ryan Peniston in the first round a year ago, dominating in a 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 victory, his most impressive one at Wimbledon since 2014!
Murray met world no. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the second round and gave the crowd something to cheer about in what turned out to be his last singles Wimbledon match. Two rivals battled for four hours and 40 minutes, and the Greek prevailed 7-6, 6-7, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4, staying focused after the third set and delivering the Briton's heartbreaking defeat.
Stefanos served well and faced one break point in the entire clash.
Andy Murray withdrew from Wimbledon in singles.
Andy converted his chance in the third set and defended five out of six break points offered to his opponent, giving his best to prevail but losing serve for the only time in the decider.
They produced 11 comfortable holds at the beginning of the duel, with Murray serving at 5-6. The Briton defended a set point and introduced a tie break, only to lose it 7-3 after two mini-breaks on the Greek's side. There were no break chances in the second set, with both players controlling the pace of their games en route to another tie break.
The tables turned, and Andy grabbed two mini-breaks while serving well, clinching the breaker 7-2 and leveling the overall score.
With a boost on his side, Murray broke at love at the beginning of the third set and served well, taking it 6-4 and moving a set away from a notable victory.
The fourth set saw no break chances, and Andy stood a tie break away from a top-5 victory. It was not to be for him, though, earning no return points and losing the breaker 7-3. Tsitsipas secured his only break of the duel in the third game of the decider, cementing it with a fine hold in the next one and forging a 3-1 advantage.
Stefanos produced fine holds in games six and eight, moving 5-3 in front and closer to the finish line. The Greek served for the win in game ten and held after a deuce, sealing the deal and sending the Briton out of the competition.
"Unfortunately, despite working incredibly hard on his recovery since his operation just over a week ago, Andy has taken the very difficult decision not to play the singles this year," Andy Murray's team stated.
