Andy Murray delights Wimbledon faithful with logic-defying four-hour comeback win on Centre Court (as wife Kim suffers through every point)

Andy Murray tonight delighted scores of fans at Wimbledon with a logic-defying four-hour comeback win.

The three-time Grand Slam winner secured his victory in the Men’s Singles Second Round against German opponent Oscar Otte, making an astonishing recovery to take three sets following a tense and tumultuous fight.  

It was the father-of-four’s second win after his return to Centre Court on Monday, when Murray knocked Georgian tennis pro Nikoloz Basilashvili out of Wimbledon in one of the most extraordinary performances of his career.  

Today’s clash began well for Murray, who took the first set 6-3 with apparent ease on his home turf. His wife Kim Sears watched on with bated breath from the stands. 

But the tables soon turned, with a determined Otte edging suddenly ahead and snatching the second and third sets from the seething former Grand Slam champion, both at 6-4. 

In a nail-biting fourth set, Murray fell down in a tense moment following years of groin and hip injury issues that saw him take a four-year break from Wimbledon. He underwent surgery to have a metal rod fitted in 2019. 

The set was later paused so the open roof of the Centre Court could be closed. 

And the 17-minute break marked a turning point for Murray, who pushed ahead to secure the fourth set 6-4 to the delight of roaring crowds who erupted into a championship-style winning cheer.

Britons were left on the edge of their seats until the very end as the home favourite battled hard to overcome his stubborn opponent. He eventually secured his victory, knocking Otte out of the championship. 

Murray made his long-awaited return to Wimbledon on Monday following a four-year break due to lengthy injury problems, and tonight tested his courage and stamina in a tough clash that lasted four hours. 

His wife Kim cheered him on from courtside tonight, the mother-of-four jumping to her feet and appearing deep in thought as her husband fought for his victory in a stressful final set. 

Supporters could be heard shouting ‘Come on Andy!’ and ‘We love you Andy!’ as the lengthy clash reached its end, deafening screams erupting from the Wimbledon faithful when he finally secured his win.  

Andy Murray (above following his win) delighted scores of fans at Wimbledon with a logic-defying four-hour comeback win

It was the father-of-four’s second win after his return to Centre Court on Monday, when Murray knocked Georgian tennis pro Nikoloz Basilashvili out of Wimbledon in one of the most extraordinary performances of his career

Murray reacts during his tense second round match against Germany’s Oscar Otte at Wimbledon today

Today’s clash began well for Murray, who took the first set 6-3 with apparent ease on his home turf 

Murray made his long-awaited return to Wimbledon on Monday following a four-year break due to lengthy injury problems, and tonight tested his courage and stamina in a tough clash that lasted four hours 

Murray’s wife Kim jumps to her feet in celebration after the father-of-four secured his second win of Wimbledon 2021

Kim had earlier appeared deep in thought as the final set came to a tense breaking point at the Centre Court 

Andy Murray of Britain in action against Oscar Otte of Germany during their second round match at the Wimbledon Championships 2021

Germany’s Oscar Otte plays Andy Murray during the men’s singles second round match on day three of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London

Murray shakes hands with Oscar Otte after winning the men’s singles second round match on day three of Wimbledon

Murray had previously said he was resigned to not having his wife and four children – Sophia, five, Edie, three, Teddy, one, and a third daughter, born in March – watching him due to the coronavirus restrictions.

But Kim was able to attend today and could be seen clapping from the stands in a floral blouse and sunglasses. 

Speaking after his victory, Murray thanked the crowd for getting him ‘fired up’ during the final sets that secured his astonishing Second Round win, admitting the clash was a ‘tough match.’

He said: ‘What an atmosphere to play in at the end, the whole crowd is amazing but there was a few guys in there who were getting me fired up and I needed everyone’s help tonight.’

The exhausted tennis ace noted that he had fallen a few times during the clash, lamenting the ‘slick courts’ that saw Serena Williams retire when she fell over on Centre Court and appeared to hurt her ankle.

He added: ‘I obviously get a rest day tomorrow the hopefully I can come out on Friday and play in another atmosphere like this, and hopefully perform well.’   

The tense clash came after tennis pros today took a tumble while playing at Wimbledon for a second day after heavy rain led to slippery grass in the wettest start to the grand slam in ‘almost a decade’.  

Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori, John Isner and Bianca Andreescu slipped while playing on grasscourts during the legendary tournament – a day after US tennis superstar Serena Williams was forced to retire when she fell over on Centre Court and appeared to hurt her ankle. 

Murray celebrates following the second victory of his comeback championship at Wimbledon following a four-year break 

The three-time Grand Slam winner waves to crowds of onlookers following his extraordinary comeback clash

Murray made his long-awaited return to Wimbledon on Monday after a four-year break due to lengthy injury problems

Andy Murray reacts during his Gentlemen’s Singles second round match against Oscar Otte on centre court on day three of Wimbledon

The Scot won the first set 6-3 despite a series of difficult serves from German Otte, who remained determined as the pair moved into a tense second round in the Men’s Singles Second Round tonight

Murray held an early lead, but Otte suddenly edged ahead and later snatched the second set from the seething former Grand Slam champion 6-4

Murray had previously said he was resigned to not having his wife (above) and four children – Sophia, five, Edie, three, Teddie, one, and a third daughter, born in March – watching him due to the coronavirus restrictions

But Kim was able to attend today and could be seen clapping from the stands in a floral dress and sunglasses

Murray and Coco Gauff were among those to comment on the surface yesterday, while eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer said he had previously found the surface to be more slippery when the stadium roof was shut due to a build up of humidity. 

A Wimbledon spokesman has defended itself against criticism of its grass, claiming the club was satisfied with the quality of the surface and that it had been the wettest start to a tournament ‘in almost a decade’.

Mr Federer said this year’s problems are not new. ‘Those first two matches are always extremely difficult. But it’s always been like this,’ he said. ‘I feel for a lot of players, it’s super-key to get through those first two rounds because the grass is more slippery, it is more soft. 

The third set at Centre Court finished with another 6-4 victory for Otte as the threat of rain loomed above in London

The tense clash came after tennis pros today took a tumble while playing at Wimbledon for a second day after heavy rain led to slippery grass in the wettest start to the grand slam in ‘almost a decade’

Novak Djokovic, Kei Nishikori, John Isner and Bianca Andreescu slipped while playing on grasscourts during the legendary tournament – a day after US tennis superstar Serena Williams was forced to retire

A Wimbledon spokesman has defended itself against criticism of its grass, claiming the club was satisfied with the quality of the surface and that it had been the wettest start to a tournament ‘in almost a decade’

 In a nail-biting fourth set, Murray fell down in pain in a tense moment following years of groin and hip injury issues which saw him take a four-year break from Wimbledon. He underwent surgery to have a metal rod fitted in 2019

The set was later paused so the open roof of the Centre Court could be closed as the night drew in

The 17-minute break marked a turning point for Murray, who pushed ahead to secure the fourth point 6-4 to the delight of roaring crowds who erupted into a championship-style winning cheer

‘As the tournament progresses, it usually gets harder and easier to move on.’ 

In 2013, several players slipped on one day, including Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka, who was left injured. The day was dubbed ‘Wacky Wednesday’ by newspapers.  

Mr Federer said he believed the Centre Court roof made the grass more slippy, saying: ‘I do feel it feels a tad more slippery maybe under the roof.

‘I don’t know if it’s just a gut feeling. You do have to move very, very carefully out there. If you push too hard in the wrong moments, you do go down. 

Analysing why this may be the case, Joseph Page of Joe’s Lawn Care told MailOnline: ‘Moisture is more likely to build up in an enclosed space, particularly with fans and players in there.

Murray said in a tweet he had found Centre Court slippery when he played on Monday. Pictured: Murray arriving today

He posted after Miss Williams retired: ‘Brutal for @serenawilliams but centre court is extremely slippy out there. Not easy to move out there’

Spectators in the stands cheer on Andy Murray during his Men’s Singles second round match against Oscar Otte

Speaking after his victory, Murray thanked the crowd for getting him ‘fired up’ during the final sets that secured his astonishing Second Round win, admitting the clash was a ‘tough match’

‘It’s a bit like being inside a greenhouse. However, there will be ventilation and air con in there so I couldn’t comment on the technicalities of this particular situation. 

‘The groundsmen will be assessing everything by the hour and looking after things so well.

‘You need a higher level of moisture in the turf to keep it green in the first place, so it’s always a play off between keeping the surface moist but also dry enough so the ball can bounce.’  

Murray said in a tweet he had found Centre Court slippery when he played on Monday.

He posted after Miss Williams retired: ‘Brutal for @serenawilliams but centre court is extremely slippy out there. Not easy to move out there.’  

Mr Federer, 39, echoed his words saying that ‘you do have to move very, very carefully out there’.

He added: ‘I do feel it feels a tad more slippery maybe under the roof. I don’t know if it’s just a gut feeling. If you push too hard in the wrong moments, you do go down.’