Andy Murray out of Wimbledon men’s doubles amid emotional scenes on Centre Court – ‘Really special’ – Eurosport

Andy Murray and brother Jamie exited the Wimbledon men’s doubles in the first round after defeat to Australian duo Rinky Hijikata and John Peers on a misty-eyed Centre Court.

After the match, Murray was joined by another person inextricably linked to Wimbledon – Sue Barker – who asked the two-time SW19 champion for his initial reflections on sharing the court with his brother.

“It was obviously really special,” Andy said.

“We never got the chance to do it before, just the way things worked out, there was a chance this year.

“Jamie’s usual partner [Michael Venus] was playing with Neal Skupski and he asked me.

“It was obviously a bit of a race against time to try and get out here, physically wasn’t easy, but I’m glad we were able to get out here and do this one time together.”

Murray received a standing ovation as he walked onto Centre Court, with members of his family watching on.

The 37-year-old looked somewhat overcome with emotion, but he put that aside to turn in some of the old magic in the first few games of the encounter.

Hijikata and Peers, a strong doubles pairing in their own right, gave as good as they got as the first set went stroke for stroke – all the way to a tie-break.

Unfortunately for the Murrays, they could not close it out and were left one set down and facing an uphill battle to keep their hopes alive.

Andy, serving first in the second set, came through a tight game, getting the brothers off to the start they wanted.

But after locating a break in the next, Jamie lost his serve as the Australian pairing pulled back for 2-1 – and then 2-2.

The Murrays began to lose the initiative as the set went on, and they were broken again at 3-3 as their opponents moved to 5-3 up and on the brink of pooping the Centre Court party.

The brothers held for 5-4, but it was not to be, as the Australians ran out victors.

Murray’s mixed doubles bow with Raducanu comes on Saturday, against Marcelo Arevalo and Zhang Shuai.