MURRAY UP AND
AFTER four years away we should have known better than to hurry a Murray.
Talk of possible firstround humiliation, metal hips, too many miles on the clock and of a former champion shorn of his powers – Andy Murray had pulled the wool over our eyes. Rumours of career being in the death throes had been greatly exaggerated after all. Even if the climax had the watching nation requiring a shot of his new anti-sweat woollen tennis attire. We’ll get to his almighty Wimbledon wobble but first, the plaudits. As a centre court crowd and the Scot once again became one, a wolf in sheep’s clothing approach carried him into the second round as he triumphed in four sets. The 34-yearold defiedthe cynics with a sublime and at times savage acepacked display against 24th seed Nikoloz Basilashvili and show he’s not ready for the SW19 knackers yard just yet. It also came with some excruciating drama as he almost threw it all away. But what else did we expect? An inexplicable third-set collapse where he lost seven games on the bounce was a calamity in the making. The Rolls Royce days may be behind him, the running repairs have taken a toll. Yet the two time Wimbledon men’s singles winner showed class is permanent by taking down the Georgian on his return to centre court for the first time since 2017.
The road from Dunblane to gaining global domination with a racket in his hand is well documented but the signs are another unexpected chapter is being written by a man ignoring physical vulnerabilities and making a mockery of anyone writing him off by looking in the mood to make up for lost time.
It was always going to be an emotional entrance onto the All England Club’s main stage for Murray.
A standing ovation and roars of support came his way as he took his first steps on what was to be a both magical and clinical few hours.
After an afternoon of rain, the sky cleared, the centre court roof opened and it was all eyes on a man who knew a whole range of questions were about to be asked and the answers laid bare.
With only seven tournament appearances in the past two years and the most recent being a straight sets secondround defeat at the Queens Club, those who gathered at Murray’s Mound did so more in hope than expectation that their hero could rekindle memories of a glorious past.
Throw in the indignity of the former world No.1 being ranked at 124 and the fact his wild card draw could have been kinder with Basilashvili aiming at bettering a thirdround exit in 2015.
We needn’t have worried as Murray set about blowing a man five years his junior away in spectacular style.
Opening proceedings with a string of aces provided the perfect statement of intent as the Scot powered his way to take the first game with ease to help settle the nerves.
The Georgian had his own way by levelling it, a couple of forehand winners into the corners making it clear he was going to test the physical limits of his opponent.
Novak Djokovic had complained of a slippery surface before finding his feet to see off teenager Jack Draper a few hours before and Murray appeared to have his own issues with it by gesturing towards his footwear midway through the first set of nip and tuck.
There was no disguising the intensity of Murray as he let out a trademark scream of emotion after edging his way to a 4-3 lead as games continued to go to serve.
An encouraging diversity of shot from the Scot caught the eye, a deftness to his varied ground strokes, drop shots and brute power as his ace count mounted up as slowly but surely he began to get the measure of his man to break Basilashvili and claim the first set. A collective easing of pressure could be felt across the court. Crowd and player were on the same page. Each elaborate point won became a melody of noisy joy and relief feeding their favourite, an emotional connection that could be clearly seen.
Another ace delivered another break of Basilashvili’s serve with Murray 3-1 ahead and momentum was now flowing one way.
Basilashvili blew a big missed chance on breakpoint with the score 2-2 in the second set before Murray banked it 6-3 and looked firmly in control.
Four break points at the start of the third set-up five games on the spin. Then came the wobble as he was broken an astonishing four times.
On went the roof and Murray came back out. Disaster was averted, a nerveshredding fourth set saw the Scot edge out Basilashvili 6-3 and an extraordinary night in South London was over.
Murray’s love affair with Wimbledon has been rekindled. He looks like making good on his wish for a career swan song and if and when he does bow out, it can still be on his own terms.