Wimbledon: Andy Murray's Farewell Commences with Doubles Loss

Jul 5, 2024, Friday

The Murrays lost 7-6 (6), 6-4 in the first round of men's doubles against Rinky Hijikata and John Peers — but the result was, truly, beside the point on this evening. “The match itself, it was tough, physically.

Andy Murray's Wimbledon farewell began on a challenging note Thursday, as he and his older brother Jamie were eliminated from the men's doubles in the first round. The Murray brothers suffered a 7-6 (6), 6-4 defeat against the Australian duo Rinky Hijikata and John Peers.

Andy Murray, visibly hindered by back pain affecting his movement, relied heavily on his service game during the straight-sets loss. The defeat leaves him with potentially just one match remaining in the tournament.

The two-time Wimbledon singles champion had withdrawn from his first-round singles match earlier in the week, citing ongoing recovery from a spinal cyst procedure that had resulted in reduced sensation in his right leg.

However, Murray's decision to compete alongside his brother in the doubles sparked considerable excitement at the All England Club, where fans eagerly anticipated witnessing the British tennis legend's final appearance at the championships.

The British pair received a standing ovation from a passionate home crowd as they stepped onto Centre Court, marking the first time a men's doubles opening-round match had been played on the prestigious court since 1995.

Murray, showing signs of discomfort, first reached for his back towards the end of the second game. Despite visibly wincing in pain and frequently stretching between points, he demonstrated determination throughout the match.

Despite his physical challenges, Murray came close to breaking serve in the fifth game, creating a deuce with a powerful forehand down the line from Hijikata's serve. However, the Australians managed to hold their serve.

After trading games, the match progressed to a tiebreak. The Murrays had a chance to clinch the set when they led 6-5, but Hijikata turned the tide with two impressive shots—a forehand down the line past Jamie Murray followed by a decisive volley down the middle—putting the British duo on the defensive.

Centre Court erupted when Jamie Murray, a two-time doubles Grand Slam champion, secured the first break of serve. He moved forward to the net and delivered a decisive volley that Hijikata and Peers couldn't reach, earning cheers from the crowd.

Throughout the match, Andy Murray seemed to be battling discomfort. Jordan Pettitt/PA Images via Getty Images

However, the Australian pair promptly broke back in the seventh game to seize a 4-3 lead, which appeared to dampen the British duo's spirits. As the match unfolded, Hijikata and Peers managed to close out the remaining games, advancing to the second round at the expense of the Murrays.

Reflecting on the experience of playing doubles with his brother, Andy Murray shared with the BBC, "It was really special. We never had the chance to do it before. This year presented an opportunity. Jamie's regular partner was teaming up with Neal Skupski, so he asked me. It was a race against time to get here, and physically it was challenging today, but I'm glad we could come out and do this together."

Andy Murray is scheduled to return to the court later this week, following Wimbledon organizers' announcement that he and fellow Brit Emma Raducanu received a wild-card entry into the mixed doubles draw. The mixed doubles competition kicks off on Friday.

While Wimbledon marks a significant chapter in his career, it won't be Murray's final appearance in professional tennis. Despite his impending retirement this summer, he plans to bid farewell at the Paris Olympics, set to commence later this month at Roland Garros.