Andy Murray's bid for a fairytale send-off at Wimbledon got off to a disappointing start as he suffered a doubles defeat alongside his brother Jamie in their opening match.
LONDON (AP) — Andy Murray's Wimbledon farewell tour began with a loss in doubles on Thursday as he and his older brother Jamie were beaten in straight sets by Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic.
A standing ovation greeted the Murray brothers as they walked out onto the Centre Court grass, but their joy was short-lived as they were outplayed by the Croatian duo 6-4, 6-2 in just 73 minutes.
Andy Murray's Wimbledon Farewell Tour Opens with Disappointing Loss
Andy Murray, who will retire after this year's Wimbledon, had hoped to mark his final appearance at the All England Club with a deep run in the doubles alongside his brother. However, they were unable to match the power and precision of Mektic and Pavic, who are the top seeds in the tournament.
The Murray brothers struggled to find their rhythm from the start, with Andy making several unforced errors and Jamie failing to find his usual volleying prowess. Mektic and Pavic, on the other hand, were in dominant form, serving with accuracy and power and returning the Murray brothers' shots with ease.
The Croatians broke the Murray brothers' serve in the opening game of the match and never looked back. They broke serve again in the third game of the second set and went on to close out the match with a comfortable hold.
Andy Murray, who won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016, admitted that he was disappointed with the result but vowed to bounce back.
"We didn't play our best today, but that's tennis," he said. "We'll learn from this and come back stronger in the next match."
Jamie Murray echoed his brother's sentiments, saying that they would not give up on their dream of winning Wimbledon together.
"It's a tough loss, but we're still in the tournament," he said. "We'll regroup and come back fighting in the next round."
The Murray brothers will have a chance to redeem themselves when they face the British pair of Luke Bambridge and Jonny O'Mara in the second round on Saturday.
Despite the disappointing start, Andy Murray's farewell tour is still set to be a memorable occasion. The two-time Wimbledon champion will be honored with a special ceremony on Centre Court on Sunday, and he is expected to receive a rapturous reception from the crowd.
Murray's journey to Wimbledon has been a rollercoaster of emotions. The 35-year-old Scot has battled injuries and personal setbacks throughout his career, but he has always shown incredible resilience and determination.
His farewell tour is a testament to his love of the game and his desire to leave a lasting legacy on the sport. Whether he wins or loses, Murray is sure to receive a fitting send-off at Wimbledon, a tournament that holds a special place in his heart.
