Wimbledon 2023: Andy Murray ahead against Stefanos Tsitsipas despite injury scare as curfew halts match

Andy Murray will return on Friday to play to a finish against Stefanos Tsitsipas, with the Brit leading 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-4 when play was called off for the day due to the Wimbledon curfew.

There was little between the pair for the first two sets, with them sharing two tie-breaks, but Tsitsipas’ level dropped at the start of the third and Murray cashed in with the only break of the match to date to move ahead against the No. 5 seed.

It was a fine start from Tsitsipas who won an 11-shot rally on the opening point of the match, while Murray revved up the crowd with a brilliant passing shot in the same game as the Greek opened up with a strong hold.

Murray found himself in a hole on his opening service game as he struggled to find a first serve, but he dug himself out of the problem to hold.

After three comfortable service holds, Murray was in trouble in the 10th game when losing the opening two points. But he found a string of first serves to hold.

The Brit was struggling to make an impact on the Tsitsipas serve, and the Greek held to love to force Murray to hold to take the opener to a tie-break.

Tsitsipas turned up the pressure by running round second serves and unleashing booming forehands.

Another forehand at deuce landed on the outside edge of the line, prompting an unsuccessful challenge from Murray to create a set point.

An excellent serve and precision, hooked forehand into Tsitsipas’ forehand wing saw off the break-point threat as Murray went on to hold to take the opener to a breaker.

The opening six points went with serve, before Tsitsipas got the mini-break. Murray appeared in control of the point, but the complexion changed as Tsitsipas got the ball on his forehand and a crushing blow worked the opening – and he wrapped up the opening set when winning another point on his opponent’s serve.

As in the opening set, both players were largely untroubled on serve as the second set progressed to a tie-break.

Murray drew first blood, as a rare forehand error from Tsitsipas handed the two-time Wimbledon champion a mini-break.

Two big first serves extended Murray’s advantage and when he got a look at a Tsitsipas second serve at 4-2, he punished it to force the error.

Murray did not falter, and a huge first serve wrapped up the set at the first time of asking to level the match.

There was a huge roar of delight from the crowd, but also the realisation that the match would go into a second day with the 11pm Wimbledon curfew looming large.

The stoppage did not help the Greek, as Murray secured the first break of the match in the opening game.

Cries of “focus” came bellowing out of Murray’s mouth as he offered up break points in the fourth game, but he staved them off to keep his nose in front in the third set.

Murray’s focus never wavered, as he stood firm on serve and wrapped up the third, albeit with some drama as he let out a scream of anguish when slipping over behind the baseline.

After being on the ground for a minute, he dusted himself down and sent down a booming serve to close out the set.

With Murray wrapping up the third set at 10:39pm, the referee came on court to call time on the match.

They will return to a finish on Friday, which hands a headache to officials who need to slot it into a packed Centre Court schedule.

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