LEGEND OF THE FALL
Murray’s men’s doubles dream is over as he and Herbert are routed
After a sensational Queen’s triumph with Feliciano Lopez, the Scot’s partnership with France’s Pierre Hugues-Herbert was less successful. Murray, back at Wimbledon for the first time since 2017, went down 6-7(4) 6- 4 6-2 6- 3 to sixth seeds Nikola Mektic and Frank Skugor. We know the two- time singles champion hates to lose and he’ll be hurting at the manner of this defeat at a sold-out Court 2. Murraymania is backed and how he’s been missed at SW19 but to maintain the aura he’ l l have to w in matches and be super competitive.
It’s far too early to say “move over Murray” in big-time tennis and there were glimpses of his brilliance and optimism he can eventually return to the top level of singles action.
The Scots- Gallic pairing though couldn’t have made a better start by winning the first set on a tie-break.
A razorsharp trademark return of serve was the crucial moment in a tie-breaker, accompanied by the familiar fist pump of delight when it delivered the point.
Sadly for Murray and his French mate they couldn’t maintain the force and focus of that opening set.
Herbert was first to be broken in the match at 4-5 as the Croats levelled it at 1-1 amid a blitz of winners.
And Murray’s serve was conquered twice in the third set as the doubles experts took the lead.
Murray’s whites were covered in grass stains as he dived around in vain to change the course of the match.
He argued with the umpire about a line call when the ball was shown to be a long way out. That brought wry smiles from the other side of the net.
Fans prayed for a famous Murray comeback but with Herbert horribly struggling on his returns it was Mektic and Skugor who pounced to take the fifth set 6-2.
Murray and Herbert failed to break serve even once and were well beaten by the finish.
The crowd on No.2 court still gave their old hero a sympathetic standing ovation as he packed his bags.
Murray’s career has been stalled by injury but in his absence no Brit has come to close to replacing him.