Liam Broady and Casper Ruud's match got off to a strong start on the Centre Court in London with two closely contested sets in which they split two tie-breaks. However, Tsitsipas' intensity waned at the start of the third set, as Murray beat the top seed by taking advantage of the match's lone break. 5-0.
Murray thrilled the fans with a spectacular passing shot in the same game that Tsitsipas excited the crowd with a strong start, winning an 11-shot rally to start the match.
Having trouble getting his first serve in put Murray in a bit of a bind in his opening service game, but he was able to get himself out of it.
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| Andy Murray |
After three easy service holds, Murray ran into problems and dropped the first two points of the tenth game. He fought back, though, with a series of first serves.
Murray was forced into a tie-break as Tsitsipas tried to establish himself on his serve. Murray saved the break point as he broke Tsitsipas to take the lead in the opening set with a terrific serving and accuracy.
Both players had a comfortable six-game hold to get things going, which forced a tie-break in the second set.
Tsitsipas made a rare forehand error, giving the two-time Wimbledon winner a mini-break, and Murray took advantage.
After two strong first serves, Murray strengthened his lead. At 4-2, when he saw Tsitsipas' second serve, he took advantage of the error to tie the set.
Murray provided a break point with a forehand error at the baseline in the fourth game, but he was able to save it to win the set.
Before even requesting an equalized match, Murray delivered a strong first serve and won the set in his own name.
The crowd was electrified, but there was also the reality that the match would resume the next day because of the Wimbledon curfew of 11 p.m.
At the conclusion of the second set, Tsitsipas took a protracted toilet break, which brought to mind their contentious match at the 2021 US Open.
The Greek didn't benefit from the break because Murray got a break early in the third set.
Murray yelled "Focus" as he offered a break point in the fourth game of the first set, but in the third set, he maintained his cool, playing well from the service line and staying in third position despite briefly dipping behind the baseline.
He got up off the floor after a minute and delivered a strong serve to end the set. At 10:39 p.m., Murray finished the third set, and the referee entered the court to signal the end of the match. It will be difficult for officials to accommodate them into the busy Centre Court timetable because they will resume on Friday.
