Andy Murray is a set away from knocking Stefanos Tsitsipas out of Wimbledon after their rollercoaster clash was suspended due to the tournament’s curfew.
The two-time champion is currently leading the match 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-4, in what has been a thrilling clash so far. However, just minutes before the third set was completed there was an almighty injury scare for Murray who suffered pain at the top of his left leg that prompted him to drop to the ground out of agony. It is unclear if that was due to cramping or something more significant. Nevertheless, he still managed to serve that set out.
Should Murray win he would claim his 200th main draw victory at a Grand Slam tournament. Something has only been accomplished by seven other men in the Open Era. It will also be his 10th Tour win of the season which is significantly less than Tsitsipas who is bidding to claim his 34th.
Tennis fans will now have to wait until Friday to see who will seal their place in the third round. Unlike other major tournaments, Wimbledon has a curfew in place. When a roof was built on Center Court planning permission was obtained on the agreement that all play at the venue ends before 11pm local time. This is due to the venue being located near residential housing.
“The 11pm curfew is a Planning Condition applied to balance the consideration of the local residents with the scale of an international tennis event that takes place in a residential area,” a 2018 Wimbledon statement reads.
“The challenge of transport connectivity and getting visitors home safely is also a key consideration.”
The match so far
Taking to Center Court under the roof, both players were zoned in from the start. Tsitsipas produced some thunderous hitting but it was tamed by some sublime defensive skills from a pumped-up Murray. Subsequently, the first set was an encounter of very fine margins with both refusing to budge. Tsitsipas had a chance to seal the set whilst leading 5-4, 30-0, but failed to capitalize. Two games later the Greek then had his first first set point after an unsuccessful hawk-eye challenge by Murray. However, he didn’t convert after hitting a forehand long.
Heading into the tiebreaker, the fifth seed finally got the breakthrough he desired midway through after hammering a forehand down the line to get a mini break for 4-3. Utilizing the use of angle shots to move the former world No.1 around the court, he went on to clinch the opener.
Heading into the second frame it was a similar pattern with few break point opportunities occurring. During the sixth game, Tsitsipas appeared to close out a service game to love before a challenge by Murray ruled the ball out. He then lost three points in a row but managed to regroup in time to hold serve.
Murray’s perseverance finally paid off in the second tiebreaker when a duo of Tsitsipas forehand unforced errors guided him to a 6-2 lead. He then levelled the match with the help of a 104 mph serve out wide that Tsitsipas returned out.
With just over an hour left of play before the curfew came into effect, Tsitsipas took a toilet break which inevitably prompted a hostile reception from the crowd when he returned. The drama intensified further when a dramatic injury scare prompted concerned looks from the Murray camp. The Brit broke and was serving for a two-sets-to-one lead before he collapsed on the floor with pain in his leg. Silencing the highly animated crowd. After the scare, he got back up and managed to close the set out.
Despite there being roughly 30 minutes left before the curfew came into effect, both players agreed to halt that match at that stage.
The winner is scheduled to play Laslo Djere in the next round.
