sitsipas vs Murray LIVE!
Andy Murray returns to Centre Court at Wimbledon today for a tough clash against Stefanos Tsitsipas. It’s the renewal of a rivalry that famously boiled over at the 2021 US Open, when the length of the Greek’s toilet breaks caused a row that both players insist has long since been forgotten.
While Tsitsipas triumphed in that five-set epic two years ago, Murray was victorious the last time the pair met in Stuttgart last summer in what was one of his biggest victories since returning from major hip surgery. Though his opponent begins as the undoubted favourite this time as the fifth seed, the two-time SW19 champion may well fancy his chances of an upset on grass once again.
Tsitsipas had to endure a five-set marathon against Dominic Thiem to reach the second round, while Murray breezed past fellow Briton Ryan Peniston in straight sets, including a rare bagel. Follow updates from Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Andy Murray at Wimbledon LIVE below!
Live updates
Great call from Murray
Tsitsipas 3-3 Murray
Andy Murray has been competing at Wimbledon for long enough to know the Hawkeye system inside out, and makes an excellent challenge — with Tsitsipas’s shot originally deemed in shown to have indeed been out. That brings up 30-0, and then it’s 40-0.
Tsitsipas a bit cuter with the next point, but then a couple of slices are shared between the players and Murray finds the side of the court where his opponent isn’t. 3-3.
No breaks just yet
Tsitsipas 3-2 Murray
Tsitsipas has perfected that slammed serve out wide from the right side of the court across to the left. He’s produced a couple of aces there now and uses that shot to good effect again…
There’s a superb passed shot by Murray for 40-30 in the middle of that fifth game, but to no avail from the two-time champion’s perspective. The level of tennis already has been outstanding, particularly from Tsitsipas.
Strong hold from Murray!
Tsitsipas 2-2 Murray
Four unreturned first serves were just what Murray needed there are suffering a taxing first service game and the full force of his opponent’s serve in two games so far.
Great display of serving from the Scot. On serve still.
Rampant from Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas 2-1 Murray
Tsitsipas showing four different ways to win a point there.
A smashed volley for the first, a fierce forward down the line for the second, an ace for the third and then a Murray unforced error for the fourth. Hold to love for the Greek. Tough start for Murray.
Murray with an important (but long) first hold
Tsitsipas 1-1 Murray
Really important that Murray was able to hold there.
The crosscourt forehand he sent wide for 0-30 worried the crowd here, but his strong game at the net same him come through the game. It was certainly not an exhibition of the Scot’s greatest serving, with only his final first serve in — hence how crucial it was that he was not broken. On serve.
Excellent start from Tsitsipas
Tsitsipas 1-0 Murray
There’s a piercing silence at the beginning of this eagerly anticipated match. Tsitsipas with a comfortable hold to start it off.
Brilliant serving, some fiery forehands, and Murray only earned a single point in that one. Strong start from the Greek.
Here we are then
The players are out for their warm-ups, and they walked onto Centre Court to be met with rapturous applause from the supporters inside the ground. Real sense of anticipation here.
Who’s the favourite?
It feels such a tough question to answer. Tsitsipas is fifth seed and the world No5, but struggles on grass.
World No40 Murray, by contrast, plays his best tennis on this surface and says he feels his best for seven years. He’s a two-time Wimbledon champion, two-time Olympics champion, and former US Open and Davis Cup winner. That has to count for something, right?
What a tight, tense, nervy occasion it could be. But that might just bring the swashbuckling best out of both players. Both, after all, are entertainers.
It’s next up…
Here we are then. Murray and Tsitsipas are next on Centre Court after defending women’s champion Elena Rybakina saw off dangerous French player Alize Cornet 6-2, 7-6. Rybakina won 78% of the points in which her first serve was in. Murray could do with a bit of that this evening.
He and Tsitsipas are due on next.
First Round recap
For Stefanos Tsitsipas, it was a more testing first-round opponent and thus a much more gruelling first-round match.
He came through five sets against Dominic Thiem, the Austrian former World No3 desperately trying to force his way back into the big time after a woeful few years with injury.
Tsitsipas won 3-6, 7-6, 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 and afterwards allayed any potential spice left in his match-up with Murray, insisting: “He’s someone that I respect. He has done great things in tennis. I’m looking forward to this match.”
