It was almost as if Andy Murray suddenly realised his time was up. On the hallowed patch of London turf that has provided the stage for his greatest triumphs and more than a few of his most epic sporting tragedies, the realisation that the glory days may be over for good came mid-way through the fourth set of his latest epic late-night match at Wimbledon.
After finding a way back into a contest that was slipping away from him as he dropped the first two sets against old foe John Isner, Murray’s hopes of another five-set epic triumph were dashed in the game that gave his towering American opponent the door he needed to step through to seal victory.
John Lloyd on the British tennis boom Djokovic v Nadal battle renewed Can anyone stop Iga Swiatek? Tim Henman's Wimbledon preview Nick Kyrgios a Wimbledon contender John Lloyd on Emma Raducanu's Wimbledon hopes Serena Williams is back Boris Becker sent to jail John Lloyd on Andy Murray's Wimbledon dream Murray appeared to have the momentum in the match until he was broken mid-way through the fourth set and the reaction he served up as his forehand drooped into the net for the fateful break of serve said it all.
Pulling his cap down over his face, Murray’s slow and agonised walk back to this chair was that of a sportsman who wondered how it had come to this.