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CHEEKY Andy Murray broke Centre Court etiquette with an under-arm serve as he won Wimbledon’s War of the Walking Wounded.
Murray, 35, came to SW19 as a real fitness doubt due to a sore abdominal muscle sustained two weeks ago that had prevented him from serving properly.
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Yet in this match of the hospital patients, the Scot eliminated Australian serial loser James Duckworth 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the first round.
It was a result that discards any physical concerns and a marathon match that almost delayed the BBC News at Ten.
However, the Scot was in a mischievous mood because in the fourth game of the third set he did a Nick Kyrgios special to entertain the crowd.
Even though Duckworth was a long way back, nobody was expecting the two-time Wimbledon champion to serve under-arm.
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Indeed in these magnificent surroundings, it is simply not the done thing, it is just not tennis old boy.
Murray was almost punished for this surprise motion but Duckworth was unable to convert the point following a bad connection with his racket.
It is the second time Murray had tried the controversial tactic – the previous occasion was against Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz at Indian Wells in October 2021.
But to perform the trick on the most famous court on the planet on prime-time TV took some big Scottish cojones.
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Murray, who has never lost in the first round, defended the under-arm serve and said it was not an act of disrespect.
He said: “Well, he changed his return position – that’s why I did it.
“He was struggling a little bit on the first-serve return, so he stepped probably two meters further back. As soon as I saw him step further back, I threw the underarm serve in.
“I personally have no issue with players using it. I never have.
“It’s a legitimate way of serving. I would never use an underarm serve if someone was standing on the baseline because I think it’s a stupid idea.
“Tactically it's a smart play.
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“No one says it’s disrespectful for someone to return from 5-6 metres behind the baseline to try to get an advantage.
“So I used it not to be disrespectful to him but to say, if you’re going to step further back to return the serve to give yourself more time, then I’m going to exploit that.”
When Murray walked out on Centre Court at dinner time, it was like he had rolled back the years to the glory days.
There, in the players’ box, was the reassuring sight of baseball cap-wearing Ivan Lendl, who had agreed in March to a third spell as coach.
Murray revealed on the eve of this match that the Czech-born American took a chance when others were not interested in helping someone with a metal hip implant.
Duckworth, 30, is someone on the Tour who can sympathise with the injury woes given that he has undergone nine surgeries in ten years.
And in fact he was operated on by the same Melbourne-based doctor that Murray used in January 2018.
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The Sydney slugger had lost nine of 11 previous matches this year as he recovers from a hip op but he showed he would be competitive as he took the first set.
Duckworth twice complained to the umpire about the quality of light as sunset began and asked if it would be closed before it was shut after the conclusion of the third set, which Murray claimed.
The world No74 suggested that it would have happened instantly had Murray asked, strongly implying home bias in favour of the former world No1.
After a ten-minute delay, Murray returned to court and eventually wrapped up the victory in two hours and 43 minutes following a ley break of serve in the ninth game of the fourth set.
Next up in his quest for a third title will be the regular sight of John Isner, whom he has never lost to in eight previous matches.
Whether he would try another under-arm serve against the American giant remains to be seen.
Murray, who has never lost in the first round of singles, said: “It’s amazing to be back here again with a full crowd after the last few years. An amazing atmosphere.
“I’m getting on a bit now. I don’t know how many opportunities I will get to play on this court. I want to make the most of them.
“I am glad I got through. Hopefully I’ll get another match in a couple of days.
“I did well to rebound after the first set, he likes playing on the grass, he has come back from hip surgery.
“But once I found my returns as the match went on, I felt comfortable, I did well to get through.
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“There are always nerves and pressures and butterflies and stress before the first match. It was a longer build up for me due to the ab injury in Stuttgart.
“I have done a lot of practice here. So it is great to get a win and hopefully I’ll play better from here on.”
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