Stefanos Tsitsipas ended the dream of two-time Wimbledon winner Andy Murray as the fifth seed reached the third round on Friday in a match which began the day before.
The Greek fifth seed handed the Centre Court hero a 7-6 (3), 6-7 (2), 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-4 defeat in a cumulative four and a half hours.
Murray won the title here in 2013 and 2016 but has now lost his last two appearances in the second round. Friday’s conclusion ran for an hour and three-quarters with the younger man admitting he was severely tested.
“I had to work extra hard today to get the victory,” Tsitsipas said. “Andy made me run left and right, up and down for more than four hours.
“The challenge today was to come up with solutions against someone who can return a lot of balls.”
The match was paused due to darkness on Thursday night, with Murray leading two sets to one.
The second chapter less than 24 hours later was just as intense, with Tsitsipas getting the edge with a break in the third game of the final set and holding his nerve to win on a third match point.
“It’s never easy against Andy,” the winner said. “Everyone loves him here.
“I’m very impressed with how well he has held up after so many years on Tour having had two hip surgeries.
“His level today was impressive. It was tough to play when you watched him while growing up. It was hard to overcome this obstacle.”
Top seed Carlos Alcaraz snapped his brief Centre Court jinx, claiming victory at the iconic venue after a loss in 2022.
The Spaniard defeated Alexandre Muller 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-3 to advance into the third round, with the Queen’s Club champion claiming his seventh straight victory on grass.
A year ago he went out in the fourth round at the iconic showcourt to Jannik Sinner.
“I’m really, really happy to win a match here,” he said. “I’ve started the tournament well and I’m feeling good on grass.
“I’m getting more experience and feeling better with each match.”
Daniil Medvedev came back out to finish a second-round match held over from the night before and advanced past Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3, 7-6- (5).
The third seed double-faulted on his first match point but came good as France’s Mannarino sent a return wide to end a two-and-a-half-hour encounter.
The pair have now played five times on grass, with Medvedev avenging a loss two weeks ago in the Netherlands.
“It’s not easy to play two different days,” the winner said.
“Straightaway you’re nervous, you don’t want to lose this set because the momentum of the match can change.
“I’m so happy that I managed to close it out on the tiebreak. I feel like I played pretty well from the start today (4-4 in the third set).
“We had some unbelievable points actually.. happy that I managed to push it through and be here tomorrow.”
Young Dane Holger Rune continued his education on grass in his second Wimbledon edition with a 6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-4 defeat of Roberto Carballes Baena.
The 20-year-old sixth seed is pleased with his progress at reaching the third-round here for the first time with victory in a match which began on Thursday.
He came from two breaks down in the opening set and once more in the third.
“It was not easy today, he doesn’t give you anything for free,” the winner said.
“I needed to finish the points and play well. I managed to raise my level close to the end and got lots of crowd support.
Rune, who grew up on European clay, called grass “a beautiful surface when you are playing the right way.”
“It’s a big adjustment as I’ve played on hardcourt and clay my whole life.”
He added: “I don’t feel insecure anymore on the grass, sometimes it’s not only about hitting hard.
“It’s also about playing the right shots, make the opponent play in the important moments.”
Italian eighth seed Jannik Sinner made quick work of France’s Quentin Hayes, coming back after dropping the opening set to reach the third round 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.
2021 finalist Matteo Berrettini shook off the injury problems which have blighted his game for more than a year to post a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Australian Alex de Minaur,
German Alexander Zverev advanced on a day of sun as he beat Japanese lucky loser Yosuke Watanuki 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 6-2 in two and a half hours.
