WOUNDED ANDY HAS TRUE GRIT

SIR ANDY MURRAY could not even bend over to pick up his bottle of water.

He eventually gave up the chase. The world No.1’s body was just too worn and torn.

You might think I am talking about the scene that followed his five-set quarter-final defeat to Sam Querry last Wednesday.

But, no, this actually happened during a late-night press interview on the first Friday – a few hours after his thrilling third-round victory over Fabio Fognini.

Desperate to assist our greatest tennis ace in more than seven decades, I picked up the bottle for him – and decided to keep his lack of mobility under wraps.

Yet, I left the All England with a heavy heart, fearing Murray (right) would not be able to get out of bed the next day, let alone overcome a further four hurdles to land his third Wimbledon title.

Incredibly, by Monday, he was back out there, beating Benoit Paire in the last 16.

Sadly, come the Querry clash, my fears came true. It was one sore step too far.

But his Wimbledon last-eight exit is hardly the end of the world for Murray.

Just to reach that stage – for a 10TH YEAR running – when his body was so battered, had underlined once again why he is such a special individual.

The holder remained in post-defeat denial about the extent of the hip injury – out of respect for his American conqueror.

Losing the last two sets 6-1, while struggling to serve, keep his balance or hit ground strokes, spoke volumes for his courage, commitment, and, above all, extraordinary willingness to defy physical pain in the quest for glory.