Andy Murray played his first match after his heartbreaking exit from Wimbledon Championships. After his second-round loss, Murray expressed how demotivated he felt and that it would take him a lot of time to get over the defeat against Stefanos Tsitsipas. When he waved to the crowd while leaving the Centre Court, he received a standing ovation and thundering applause. The crowd cheering and feeling the loss of a 40th-seed player as one’s own is not an incident that is often witnessed.
The Brit won his first-round match at the Citi Open on the 3rd, making a comeback on the hard court. He was in great spirits after his victory and made the crowd roar in laughter as he exhibited his classic humor.
Andy Murray hoped all would go well for the crowd who skipped work
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Murray beat Brandon Nakashima in straight sets, 6(5) – 7(7), 4 – 6. He advanced to the second round of the Citi Open, and the world cannot be happier. In the post-match interview, the three-time Grand Slam champion further lightened the mood and put the crowd in clods by addressing them.
Talking about the huge attendance at the court, despite today being a weekday, the 36-year-old said, “It was brilliant for a Wednesday. Don?t know how many people skipped work today for this.” Expressing their agreement and impressed by the validation of the former ATP No. 1, the crowd erupted in cheers at his statement.
Andy Murray after beating Nakashima
Andy: “It was brilliant for a Wednesday. don’t know how many people skipped work today for this.”
Crowd goes wild.
Andy: “I hope your bosses didn’t see you on the TV” 😂 pic.twitter.com/mKLV52OYKU
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 2, 2023
The Olympic Gold winner further hoped that the crowd doesn’t get caught by their bosses on TV for taking a day off. Vintage Murray is back! He said, “I hope your bosses didn?t see you on the TV.” 5 years of wait came to an end with this victory, and Murray’s attitude only made the experience richer, and the affection increased by a thousandfold.
Murray also fulfilled another personal milestone as he replaced a bitter memory with a merry one.
The Wimbledon champion now replaced a bitter memory with his humor
In 2018, on the same day, Murray advanced to the quarter-finals of the Washington Open, which celebrated its 50th anniversary. He cried post-match and made the people lament with him. Those were not happy tears, and that victory was the saddest of all in his career. The man who once defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets could not play any longer.
The match that ended at 3.02 a.m. against Marius Copil lasted for more than 3 hours to the crowd, but it felt like an eternity to the Brit. Emotions engulfed him, and he sobbed into his towel after staggering to his chair. But the crowd did not stop cheering for him. Win or lose, fit or injured, Murray will always be loved by the crowd.
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The 3 times Olympic champion, who retired from the tournament that year, said that his body couldn’t take the burden. Furthermore, he felt like that was the last match in his career. Even in the whirlwind of emotions, Murray made sure to sign on each tennis ball and did not disappoint his fans despite him being in tears. But today, it was all in the past as the scenes have reversed with Murray’s witty response.
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As Frances Tiafoe rightly said, Murray, indeed, displays dry humor. The American named the ‘Big 3’ funny players of the ATP after his first-round victory at Wimbledon. He picked the Brit as he loves Murray’s naturally witty character. Fast forward to 29 days and a surface change from grass to hardcourt, the 44th seed proved the American right. Murray will play Taylor Fritz in his 2nd round, the 1st seed in the tournament.
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