Wimbledon 2023: Heartbreak for Andy Murray as Stefanos Tsitsipas seals epic comeback in second-round classic

Andy Murray suffered Wimbledon heartbreak as he lost both sets on the second day of his five-set epic against fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas to crash out in the second round.

The high quality of their electrifying battle continued on a sun-drenched Centre Court on Friday, where Murray was edged in a tie-break before losing the decider by one break in a 6-7(3) 7-6 (2) 6-4 6-7(3) 4-6 defeat.

Next up for the two-time Grand Slam finalist is a third-round clash with Serbian world No. 60 Laslo Djere, who has defeated Maxime Cressy and Ben Shelton so far.

A spellbinding encounter on Thursday night was brought to a close with Murray leading by two sets to one – and therefore just one set from a place in the third round.

Both players produced an outstanding level of serving and shot-making under the closed roof, but had to dust themselves down to go again under very different conditions, with the sun beating down on court in the mid-afternoon sun.

One of the major concerns for Murray fans was his physical condition, after the Scot had caused alarm by crying out in pain towards the end of the third set following a slip.

However, he appeared to be moving well when play resumed as set four commenced with confident holds for both players.

It was a start reminiscent of the first two sets, with break chances at a premium and Tsitsipas finding some booming forehand winners to keep Murray – and the home crowd – quiet.

Another similarity was the quality of shot-making that both players were finding, but Murray was left frustrated when his determined push for a break at 4-4 ended with a makeable short backhand going into the net.

Murray faced a huge pressure service game at 5-6 but responded by bringing out two of his best shots of the match, a backhand winner onto the line and an unstoppable passing forehand, on his way to a magnificent love hold to set up the third tie-break of the match.

The sky-high quality continued in the tie-break as big serves and fizzing winners continued to land from both players, as they went in at the change of ends inseparable at 3-3.

Tsitsipas drew first blood by finishing a long rally with an overhead smash on Murray’s serve to claim the first mini-break.

The Greek kept his composure to win his subsequent two points on serve and earn three set points, taking the first with a controlled backhand volley.

Murray dusted himself down to open the decider with a commanding love hold but after Tsitsipas followed suit, the 36-year-old found himself in deep trouble.

A double-fault handed Tsitsipas three break points at 0-40 and although Murray did superbly to save the first two, he then stuck a forehand in the net to give up the third and hand the fifth seed the advantage.

Try as he might, the Scot struggled to work his way to a break point let alone a break as Tsitsipas continued to produce the goods in a serving display of supreme consistency.

Murray was left needing to stop Tsitsipas from serving out the set and had one last flourish as he saved two match points to raise the Centre Court crowd, but the Greek made no mistake on his third when he landed an ace.

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