Wimbledon 2021: 2 hip surgeries and 4 years later, Andy Murray proves he still belongs at top

Two hip surgeries, four years, and three hours 32 minutes later, Andy Murray marked his return to singles action at Wimbledon with a seesaw 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 victory over Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili .

Murray received a heroes’ welcome at the All England Club, he rolled back the years with his inch-perfect aces, then lost momentum in the 3rd round and finally made a remarkable comeback to win the match. Not to forget, there was a brief pause when the match was suspended due to darkness.

Andy Murray was making his first Wimbledon singles appearance for the first time since 2017 when he reached the quarter-finals before falling to Sam Querrey in five sets. He missed the 2018 event due to ongoing recovery from hip surgery and competed only in men’s doubles with Pierre-Hugues Herbert, and mixed doubles with Serena Williams in 2019.

“I can still play at the highest level”

There’s no doubt about that, @andy_murray #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/KxPOB6xDC9

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 28, 2021

The 34-year-old Scot received a rousing reception when he walked out onto the green grass of Centre Court, on which he became a British sporting icon.

In the first two sets, Murray turned back the clock, winning the opening two sets convincingly. He was leading the third set by 5-0. At this point, It looked like it is going to be a fairytale return for the two-time champion, but then came the twist, and he was broken three times in a row and lost seven consecutive games.

Tension filled in the air, and the crowd tried to lift the former world number one, but Murray had lost his momentum, and Basilashvili took the third set 7-5.

this sport.

R1

#AMC pic.twitter.com/7GJoKCVkJ5

— Andy Murray (@andy_murray) June 28, 2021

Murray looked vulnerable with nagging doubts about his physical condition, Basilashvili had the opening in the match.

The turnaround was undoubtedly on the cards but the match was suspended for 10 minutes as darkness descended over the All England Club. The players left the court while the sliding roof was closed and lights switched on to complete the match.

However, the brief pause. had a rejuvenating effect on Murray, who returned to break serve to love in the first game of the fourth set. Nearly one hour and a half after his first match points, Murray once again arrived at match point. He claimed the victory to see off Basilashvili and book a place in the second round this time.

Murray will next face either German qualifier Oscar Otte or French qualifier Arthur Rinderknech. Otte and Rinderknech were deadlocked after three hours and 39 minutes in the fifth set at 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6(5), 9-9 when their match was suspended due to darkness.

Playing in just his fourth tour-level event of the year, Murray fired 17 aces against Basilashvili as he improved his perfect record in Wimbledon’s first round to 13-0.

During the post-match interview at the Court, Murray also cleared the air on his retirement and said, ‘he can still play at the highest level.’

“I keep getting asked: Is this going to be my last Wimbledon? Last match? I don’t know why I keep getting asked about it. Like, no. I’m going to keep playing. I want to play,” said Murray.

“I’m enjoying it and I can still play at the highest level,” added Murray.

Murray has won the title at the All England Club in 2013 — giving Britain its first male champion there in 77 years — and again in 2016.

Murray was carrying a trail of apprehensions on his fitness, fatigue, and the most important, the rust as he lacked match practice. But with his long rallies, groundstrokes, aces, and drop shots, one can say there’s still a lot of gas left in the former world number one.