Andy Murray Grabs Hard-Fought Victory at Queen's

Andy Murray commenced what is likely his final appearance at Queen’s with a hard-fought victory over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin. The former world number one secured a 6-3 3-6 6-3 win in his first-round match on Tuesday. Murray, a five-time Queen’s champion, expects to retire after the Paris 2024 Olympics. The 37-year-old Scotsman has dealt with setbacks this year, including ankle and back injuries.

Despite dropping outside the top 100 in the rankings, his victory over Popyrin marked only his seventh of the season. Reflecting on his season, Murray remarked, “It has been a difficult season but I did well to come through in the end. Any win you can get is important – obviously with Wimbledon a few weeks away I want to build up confidence and get matches in my legs.”

Meanwhile, Jack Draper, newly crowned as Britain’s top men’s player, continued his strong form with a commanding 6-3 6-2 victory over Mariano Navone of Argentina. The 22-year-old, fresh from his maiden ATP title in Stuttgart, set up an intriguing second-round clash with reigning Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz. In contrast, compatriot Dan Evans was forced to retire due to a knee injury suffered during his match against American Brandon Nakashima.

The slippery grass courts at Queen’s have caused issues for several players including Frances Tiafoe and Thanasi Kokkinakis, prompting tournament officials to address concerns about court conditions. Elsewhere, British number six Billy Harris achieved the biggest win of his career by defeating Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry, setting a new career-high ranking inside the top 150.

As Andy Murray nears the end of his illustrious career, his fans at Queen’s savored one more triumph, aware that opportunities to witness his matches are dwindling.