Murray – early exit does not spell end of Wimbledon career

Veteran Scot already planning return to big stage despite Isner loss

Andy Murray remains convinced he can still challenge at the grand slams despite suffering his earliest Wimbledon exit.

However, the former world No 1 one admits his injury problems since coming back from careersaving hip surgery mean he cannot offer any guarantees that he will be back for another crack next year.

Murray, the two-time champion, failed to reach the third round at SW19 for the first time after a fourset defeat by big-serving American John Isner on Centre Court.

However, 35-year-old Murray insists he still has what it takes to mix it with the elite at the major tournaments, fitness permitting.

“Has my opinion changed based on tonight’s match? No,” said the Scot.

“I think most of the players on the tour would tell you that a match like that was won or lost based on a few points here and there. I didn’t play well enough on those points tonight.

“I certainly didn’t serve well enough at the beginning of the match, which I think is understandable. Look, he’s a difficult opponent to play against.

“Tonight’s match, I don’t see why it should change that view really.”

Murray, who made his Wimbledon debut in 2005, wants to return to the scene of his greatest triumphs next year.

But he added: “It depends on how I am physically. If physically I feel good, then we’ll try to keep playing.

“But it’s extremely difficult with the problems I’ve had with my body in the last few years to make long-term predictions about how I’m going to be even in a few weeks’ time, never mind in a year’s time.

“If physically I’m in a good place, yeah, I will continue to play. But it’s not easy to keep my body in optimal condition to compete at the highest level.”

Isner’s 6-4 7-6 (4) 6-7 (3) 6-4 win was a first career victory over Murray at the ninth time of asking.

The 6ft 10in missile launcher sent down 36 aces while Murray managed just 15 points against his relentless first serve.

Murray’s preparation for the championships was hindered by an abdominal injury suffered in Stuttgart a fortnight earlier.

He said: “It was frustrating and it didn’t help. I was in a really good place physically and my game was in a good spot.

“The serve and return are the two most important shots in the game and I was not able to serve for essentially 10 days off the back of Stuttgart.

“The positive is that physically I was fine during the matches. It was touch and go, kind of, on the Wednesday or Thursday before the tournament in terms of how I was going to be.

“But I felt good physically on the court. I just couldn’t quite get the win today.”

As the Scots legend was making an early SW19 exit, Cameron Norrie was getting ready to embrace the pressure of trying to make the second week at a grand slam after he survived a scare to keep the British train on track at Wimbledon.

The world No 11 needed five sets to get the better of Spaniard Jaume Munar but looked in trouble after his former doubles partner won the second and third sets.

With Emma Raducanu already on her way to a round two exit on Centre Court, it seemed possible both of the big British hopes may be out of SW19 before the end of day three.

Norrie had other ideas, handing out a bagel to force a decider, which he won after breaking three times to triumph 6-4 3-6 5-7 6-0 6-2.

It booked the British No 1 a meeting with Steve Johnson as he attempts to make the fourth round of a major for the first time.

“If I’m the last Brit standing, it is what it is. I’m going to go and treat it like any other match, go out and compete as hard as I can,” the ninth seed said.

“I’ll go out and enjoy that. Another opportunity to embrace the pressure, embrace the challenge of trying to make the second week.

“I’m not really trying to make a name for myself. I want to do it for me and my team, to prove that I can do it at slams, not just at other tournaments.”

Norrie was the first home player through to the last64 on Monday and nine others would eventually join him – the most Britons to reach round two since 1984 – but he had to show a lot of grit to keep on flying the flag.

Novak Djokovic fired a warning to his title rivals by easing past Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis with a

flawless display, and then vowing to get even better.

The defending champion had been unconvincing in his 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Korean Kwon Soonwoo in what was his first match on grass since last year’s final.

But, ominously for the rest of the men’s draw, Djokovic looked more like the player who has not lost a match here since 2017 as he effortlessly saw off world No 79 Kokkinakis 6-1 6-4 6-2.

The 35-year-old is vying for a fourth straight title and to move level with Pete Sampras on seven and within one of men’s recordholder Roger Federer.

Norwegian Casper Ruud, the French Open runner-up, bowed out 3-6 6-2 7-5 6-4 against Frenchman Ugo Humbert

Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz, the youngest man in the draw, claimed a 6-4 7-6 (0) 6-3 win over Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.

Another Spaniard, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, suffered an ignominious exit as he was given a point penalty while facing match point against Jiri Vesely for hitting a loose ball out of the court.

Cameron Norrie is in the third round.