Murray In Limbo After Injury(?) At Wimbledon, Ruud Upset; Djokovic, Alcaraz Fri.

The big match of the day is still in limbo as Andy Murray will head to bed tonight in London with a two sets to one lead 6-7(3), 7-6(2), 6-4 over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Wimbledon second round.

Tsitsipas was the better ball striker in the opener taking in a breaker, but Murray got back on top in the second playing a perfect breaker of his own to level. Murray got a quick break to start the third and then at 5-4 serving 40-15, Murray slipped and let out a scream as he dropped to the ground clutching his groin. Murray rolled in pain as the umpire rushed over.

He stood back up and needing just one point to secure the set, he got it done. With just 20 minutes until the 11pm curfew was to be hit, the referee stopped the affair. Murray appeared to want to continue but didn’t put up a fight.

The question is, was he injured and if so how bad? Either way, tomorrow he’ll need one set and the Greek two.

Earlier in the day, the Brits got on the board with a huge win with lefty Liam Broady stunning No. 4 Casper Ruud i6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Broad earned the biggest win of his career going away against the 3-time Sam finalist.

“I would have liked to have played him back home at Stockport but Centre Court will do,” Broady said. “Last night I thought about what I would say if I won this match. Now I don’t know what to say. It’s a terrifying, exhilarating experience going out on Centre Court. It’s been my dream since I was five years old.”

The 7th-seeded Andrey Rublev eased past countryman Aslan Karatsev 6-7(4-7), 6-3, 6-4, 7-5.

It was a mixed day for Americans. Frances Tiafoe and Tommy Paul both won with Paul going for against former finalist Milos Raonic. Tiafoe saved sets points in the first before prevailing over qualifier Dominic Stricker.

Taylor Fritz blew his first two set losing going down in five to Michael Ymer 3-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. And the much-hyped Ben Shelton continued to struggle falling to Laslo Djere 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7-5), 6-3.

Daniil Medvedev was up two sets and 4-all (he had a 4-2 lead) before darkness stopped the match.

14th-seeded Lorenzo Musetti sent off (26y,109r) Jaume Munar 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. (The 15th-seeded Alex De Minaur sent off Kimmer Coppejans 6-7(5-7), 6-3, 6-3, 7-6(7-2).

No. 17 Hubert Hurkacz defeated Jan Choinski 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(7-3). (21y,37r) Jiri Lehecka upset No. 18 seed Francisco Cerundolo 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

And No. 19 Alexander Zverev eliminated the Netherlands’s Gijs Brouwer 6-4, 7-6(7-4), 7-6(7-5).

“He was a very tough opponent, the rain was a very tough opponent as well,” Zverev said. “But I’m just happy to be back at Wimbledon after missing it last year with a pretty bad injury. I’m just happy to be on this court again. It’s something that I’ve really missed.

“I was ready to start the tournament next Saturday, to be honest, but luckily I got to play today and I think I’m playing tomorrow again and I think I’m playing after tomorrow…I mean, if I win, of course! In my mind I am. It’s going to be a tough few days for me with a lot of back-to-back matches, especially with Grand Slam best-of-five set matches – it’s never easy physically. But, like I said, I’m just glad to be playing tennis right now.”

Grigor Dimitrov, Denis Shapovalov, Alexander Bublik and Nicolas Jarry were also winner.

On a busy Friday, No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz will meet Alexandre Muller in a first-time tour-level clash.

No. 2 Novak Djokovic returns to meet Stan Wawrinka for a 27th time, first on the slippery grass.

No. 6 Holger Rune takes on Roberto Carballes Baena, Rublev gets David Goffin, No. 8 Jannik Sinner will meet Quentin Halys, No. 12 Cameron Norrie faces American Christopher Eubanks, No. 14 Lorenzo Musetti collides with No. 17 Hubert Hurkacz and No. 15 Alex De Minaur faces Matteo Berrettini who finished off Lorenzo Sonego today.

FRIDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT – 1:30PM
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) [1] v Alexandre Muller (FRA)
Not Before: 3:00pm
Andy Murray (GBR) leads Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [5] To Finish 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 6-4
Iga Swiatek (POL) [1] v Petra Martic (CRO) [30]
Stan Wawrinka (SUI) v Novak Djokovic (SRB) [2]

NO.1 COURT – 1:00PM
Varvara Gracheva (FRA) v Aryna Sabalenka [2]
Cameron Norrie (GBR) [12] v Christopher Eubanks (USA)
Ons Jabeur (TUN) [6] v Zhuoxuan Bai (CHN)

NO.2 COURT – 11:00AM
Aliaksandra Sasnovich v Petra Kvitova (CZE) [9]
Not Before: 12:30pm
Daniil Medvedev [3] leads Adrian Mannarino (FRA) To Finish 6-3 6-3 4-4
Alexander Zverev (GER) [19] v Yosuke Watanuki (JPN)
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) [26] v Liam Broady (GBR)
Marie Bouzkova (CZE) [32] v Caroline Garcia (FRA) [5]