Wimbledon 2017: Injured Andy Murray exits to Sam Querrey

Andy Murray shows his frustration during defeat to Sam Querrey at Wimbledon. Picture: John Walton/PA Wire

The Scotsman looked vibrant in the opening set, winning the first three games but even as he won the third-set on the tie break, discomfort was evident. Querrey took advantage, his strong service game making it an increasingly uncomfortable afternoon for Murray.

Murray did not face a single break point as he took the first set 6-3.

Querrey, the 24th seed, made a nervous start, spraying errors as Murray won eight of the first nine points. The American improved significantly thereafter and dominated his own service games but could not break Murray.

Sam Querrey of the United States was dominant against Andy Murray. Picture: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

There were not many rallies and not too much for the crowd to get into as Murray probed away at the Querrey serve early in the second set.

In the seventh game he found some magic with a backhand pass threaded down the line to bring up three break points but Querrey saved them all.

However, a beautifully feathered lob helped him create a fourth chance and this time he took it, drawing the error as he forced the tall American to volley off his toes.

Querrey had not come close to breaking the Murray serve but, just when he looked in total control, he allowed his opponent back into the match.

A limp drop shot prompted Murray to hit his head and foot with his racket in frustration and Querrey seized his chance.

The 29-year-old’s big forehand was coming into play as he started to push Murray around behind the baseline and then charge the net.

Murray had gone right off the boil, his first serve and forehand deserting him, and it was Querrey skipping back to his chair after a backhand winner gave him the set 6-4.

The crowd were stunned by the sudden turnaround but Murray ensured his malaise did not linger with an immediate break of the Querrey serve at the start of the third set.

And he held onto his advantage comfortably until he came to try to serve out the set at 5-4.

Suddenly Murray slipped back into passive mode and Querrey, hitherto unknown as a man capable of hitting searing backhand winners, found another one at a crucial moment to break back.

Murray held comfortably to force a tie-break and reaped the rewards of getting one more ball back in play when Querrey dumped a simple smash into the net to trail 3-1.

Murray was cruising at 6-1 but Querrey saved three set points before the Scot took it on the fourth, winning the tie-break 7-4.

Any thoughts that Murray was on the home stretch were quickly dispelled when Querrey broke to love in the third game of the fourth set.

The Scot was clearly not at his best physically and seemed to be having particular trouble moving to his backhand side.

He barely even connected with a shot as Querrey secured the double break for 4-1, and moments later the set slipped away 6-1.

The fifth and final set followed in suit. Querrey pressed home his physical advantage. Still capable of producing the special winning shot, they were few and far between, simply because Querrey didn’t give Murray a chance.

Strong serves were followed by even stronger winners as Querrey broke the Scotsman, taking a 3-0 lead. Murray showed that there was still fight in him when he rallied to win the fourth game

But despite trying to rally, Querrey had brought his A-game against a wounded Murray.

Murray exited as Querrey completed the match with a 6-1 win.