Wimbledon: Andy Murray rolls back the year with a straight-sets win over Ryan Penon in 1st round

At the death of his 6-3, 6-0, 6-1 first-round win over Ryan Penon at Wimbledon, Andy Murray rolled back the years. Sent further and further behind the baseline, Murray disrupted the rhythm with his backhand slice, moaned, and groaned as he returned everything Penon threw at him, and eventually passed him at the net. The Center Court crowd – including the now retired Roger Federer, on brand, occupying his place in the royal box – went into rapturous applause as Murray wound out a routine win, looking more like the player the home crowd fell in love with over a decade ago.
Year in, year out, metal hip and all, Centre Court’s reception of Murray remains raucous as ever. Ten years ago, Murray gave the sport’s most iconic arena one of its most iconic moments after he ended an anxious 77-year-long wait for a British singles Wimbledon champion, defeating Novak Djokovic in the final.
Since then, what used to be monumental pressure on his young shoulders turned into endearing home support that he has been able to feed off. A decade down the line, his career is no longer peaking, and after hip replacement in 2019, the low bouncing grass should be brutal on his body. Yet, there is no other place in the world where Murray fancies his chances more.

Shining bright on Centre Court 🌟#Wimbledon | @andy_murray pic.twitter.com/0r2VmCJJqA
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2023
“I believe I’m one of the best grass court players in the world,” Murray announced in his pre-event press conference. The Scot went about proving his surface pedigree against his compatriot on Tuesday. Cutting angles with his deep return. Winning seemingly unwinnable points with his trademark defensive lobs. Using his backhand ferociously to paint the lines at once, and then slowing down time hitting it for those acutely low slices.
The last time Djokovic – the heavy tournament favourite – lost a match on Centre Court was that final in 2013. Of the 128 players that kicked off the men’s singles main draw, Murray is the one and only player to have won a grass court match against the Serb. A deep run then, with the crowd on his side, is not totally out of the question for Murray.
But he has been here before. He has very little to show for all the buzz Murray has been creating in his later years. He has won one Tour-level title since 2017. Since then, he has not passed the third round of a Major. He has faced flak for using up wildcards – invitations that get you direct entry into the main draw irrespective of ranking – at Grand Slams. World No. 13 Cameron Norrie, who took a set off Djokovic in last year’s semifinal, is a much likelier British home favourite.
On paper, Murray only won three Grand Slams – 22-year-old Iga Swiatek surpassed him at the French Open this month. The numbers will say he exed outside the so-called ‘Big Three’. But Murray reached 11 Major finals in this sport’s most competitive era. He has beaten Djokovic, Federer, and Rafael Nadal a combined 29 times.

Feeling at home on Centre Court 🌱#Wimbledon | @andy_murray pic.twitter.com/kfGjTYv67f
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2023
So, it’s difficult to digest what keeps motivating the Scot to continue to grind on tour. Yet, while watching his self-critical tirades in the third hour of marathon matches as he enters his late thirties, it’s glaringly obvious. The joy of competing trumps all. The drive to defy doubters and his own physical limitations is endless. Results may no longer be in his control, but his uncanny ability to produce moments remains — a five-set comeback win at 4 am here, a ferocious takedown of a top-10 player there.
Murray, whose World No. 40 ranking left him narrowly close to a seeding and eventually at the mercy of the draw, is in the highlight section of the early days of this tournament. After taking on a fellow Brit in the first round, he will now play the winner of the highly-anticipated first-round match between World No. 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas and 2020 US Open champion Dominic Thiem.
After a string of injuries, Thiem is desperately looking to recapture his form. After a series of disappointing results, Tsitsipas will be out to prove he is the real deal. Neither will fancy playing against Murray – and the crowd – on Thursday. The Scot’s chances to go deep this fortnight may be slim, but he will have another chance to produce one of those moments, on the court where he has produced them the most.