LONDON: Stefanos Tsitsipas eliminated two-time Wimbledon champion Andy Murray 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (2/7), 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 on Friday in a gripping secondround match that lasted more than fourand-half hours spread over two days at Centre Court.

Murray was loudly supported by most of the 15,000 or so spectators, who all surely were aware that his 2013 title at the All England Club was the first there for a British man in 77 years. Murray also won Wimbledon in 2016, along with the 2012 US Open and two Olympic gold medals.

He is now 36, with an artificial hip after two operations on that joint.

Murray could not hold onto the two-setsto-one lead he built against Tsitsipas before play was suspended Thursday night because it was getting too late to play.

On the point before action was halted, Murray slipped and fell at the baseline, but he did not appear to struggle with any sort of injury when they resumed nearly 18 hours later. After so much rain earlier in the week, the pale blue sky was unencumbered by clouds, and some sitting on the side of the stadium that was blanketed by sun flapped their fans to try to stay cool with the temperature at 85 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).

Tsitsipas drew loud boos when he went over to the chair umpire to dispute a ruling, but he never seemed rattled at all during points. He took the last four points of the fourth-set tiebreakerFriday just as he had done to claim the first-set tiebreaker on Thursday then broke early in the fifth to lead 2-1 and was on his way. Despite squandering a couple of match points at 5-4 he made sure at the third time of asking with a booming ace.

The fifth-seeded Tsitsipas, a two-time runner-up at Grand Slam tournaments, will face Laslo Djere in the third round.

It was a rough day for the local fans: The highest-seeded British man, 12th seed Cameron Norrie, was defeated by American Chris Eubanks 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/3).

ALCARAZ SHINES Earlier, world number one Carlos Alcaraz moved a step closer to a potential title showdown with Novak Djokovic after he defeated 84th-ranked Alexandre Muller of France 6-4, 7-6 (7/2), 6-3.

`This was my second match on Centre Court. I lost here last year, so Pm happy to win on this beautiful court,` said 20-year-old US Open champion Alcaraz.

Despite victory, 41 unforced errors will be of concern to the Spaniard, who was playing his second-round match a day later than scheduled due to the heavy rain earlier in the week.

World number two Djokovic, who is bidding for a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon and 24th Grand Slam title, had his second-round obligations wrapped up by Wednesday.

Men`s third seed Daniil Medvedev returned to complete his second-roundclash against Adrian Mannarino, the Frenchman who defeated him at Wimbledon five years ago.

The mercurial Russian was two sets and 4-4 ahead when play was halted on day four but quickly wrapped up victory in a third set tie-break.

Unseeded dangerman Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 runner-up to Djokovic, made the last 32 with a straight-sets defeat of Australian 15th seed Alex de Minaur.

Danish sixth seed Holger Rune reached the third round for the first time, brushing aside Spain`s Roberto Carballes Baena 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.

Women`s second seed Aryna Sabalenka recovered from a set down to beat Varvara Gracheva, who recently switched nationality from Russia to France, 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

Former US Open champion Bianca Andreescu recovered from 2-5 down in the final set to defeat Ukraine`s Anhelina Kalinina 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (10/7).

Two-time champion Petra Kvitova eased past Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 6-2, avenging her defeat to the Belarusian in the first round in 2018.

BADOSA QUITS Ukraine`s Marta Kostyuk made the last 32 for the first time when Paula Badosa suffered a recurrence of a back injury and quit their second-round match.

Kostyuk was 6-2, 1-0 ahead when her Spanish rival retired after just 36 minutes on Court 18.Badosa immediately pulled out of the mixed doubles she was due to play with boyfriend Tsitsipas.

The 21-year-old Kostyuk next faces Madison Keys of the United States, a quarter-finalist in 2015.

Victoria Azarenka, twice a semi-finalist, was the first woman into the last 16 when she brushed aside Russia`s Daria Kasatkina.

In Thursday`s late action, defending women`s champion Elena Rybakina reached the last 32 with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/2) win against French veteran Alize Cornet despite an error-strewn display.

She will next face Britain`s Katie Boulter who ensured the home nation retains an interest in the women`s draw with a three-set victory over Viktoriya Tomova.

Swiss 14th seed Belinda Bencic also needed a third-set tiebreak to fend off American Danielle Collins but fourth seed Jessica Pegula of the United States proved far too good for Spain`s Cristina Bucsa.

US 10th seed Frances Tiafoe cruised past Swiss qualifier Dominic Stricker and will play 21st seed Grigor Dimitrov next.

American Tommy Paul saw off the challenge of former finalist Milos Raonic but US ninth seed Taylor Fritz was knocked out by Sweden`s Mikael Ymer, 3-6,2-6, 6-3, 6-4,6-2.

Polish 17th seed Hubert Hurkacz, who beat Roger Federer in the quarter-finals in 2021, saw off British wildcard Jan Choinski 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).-Agencies