Andy Murray begins his long goodbye to Wimbledon with doubles defeat

CENTRE COURT — Andy Murray began his long goodbye to Wimbledon as he and his brother Jamie were beaten 7-6, 6-4 by Australia’s Rinky Hijikata and John Peers.

Flanked by his brother Jamie for the first time at Wimbledon, Murray briefly mounted a second-set comeback with an early break but the Scots lost six of the last eight games against the more experienced team.

Murray will return for one last campaign in the mixed doubles with Emma Raducanu this weekend, but SW19 paid their own tribute to him after defeat in the men’s doubles.

Murray’s family filled his players’ box, including two of his children for the first time at Wimbledon, but even they – and the whole of Centre Court – could not drag the Murrays over the line.

More to follow…