Published: Today at 00:34
THIS was Andy Murray in a hurry.
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A late-night three-hour thriller under the Centre Court roof ticked past the 11pm SW19 playing curfew.
Wimbledon council had stipulated play must stop at that time to allow fans the chance to get back home.
For a moment, it looked like everyone would have to come back on Monday and wait for the Brit to finish off the job.
That would have been a nightmare. But Murray was able to motor through the final set against battling Marcos Baghdatis to win 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-1 and set up a last-16 clash with Croat Marin Cillic.
It was vital the Scot got the job done last night — the rest with no play today before the resumption on Monday is crucial.
Murray can ease a stiff knee and get ready for what already promises to be an epic second week.
From the outset though, this third-round clash never looked like a match which would be straight-forward.
Baghdatis, after all, has real pedigree. The Cypriot got to the Aussie Open semi-final in 2006.
He is no pushover — and so it proved. The first set was tight with neither player giving an inch. It was going with serve.
Murray gave everyone a scare when he slipped over. Another injury problem for the Brit?
He looked shaken but dusted himself down and resumed battle.
At 4-3, Baghdatis almost sneaked ahead. He went 0-40 up on the Scot’s serve.
A break at this point would have been huge. Murray, though, somehow pulled it out of the bag, managing to sneak up towards advantage. The Brit hit long, it was called out and Hawk-Eye proved it was just in. It was so close but the relief seemed to fire our man.
A poor drop shot from Baghdatis gave Murray the break and he served out to take the set.
Night was closing in, but onwards they went.
Murray’s mood went downhill. The old rantings and ravings were back and a loose game saw Baghdatis break to get 4-2 up.
The world No 42 is a real battler. But he has plenty of quality in his locker too. He was on top and all of a sudden it was 6-3 and game well and truly on at one set all.
With the clock ticking towards to 9pm, SW19 chiefs had no option but to close the roof as the light faded.
The players came out 30 minutes later with the Scot’s left knee taped up.
Murray failed to take break points as the third went to 2-2. In the very next game he was made to pay — the Cypriot smoking a cracking forehand down the line to bag a vital break.
Murray had an instant chance to hit straight back but failed to take it. Baghdatis was firmly in the driving seat, But some luck in the shape of a couple of flicks off the net helped Murray steady himself.
And when he broke back for 4-4 and then took the lead, this famous old arena’s new roof almost blew off.
Murray held serve and then a sweet drop shot forced Baghdatis to fire into the net. Set point for the Brit which he took with a cracking forehand. It was 10.36 pm though. There wasn’t much time left before the 11pm cut-off point. Murray was trying to win at breakneck speed. He failed to take three break points, but a Baghdatis double fault gave the Brit ace a 2-0 lead.
The clock was ticking but so was the scoreboard — in Murray’s favour.
He went 4-1 up but there were just three minutes remaining. And he broke as the clock ticked on to 11pm.
Three minutes later Baghdatis hit long and the game was up.
Murray had beaten the clock — and the bloke at the other end of the court. Time for hopes to soar once more.
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