Andy Murray’s hopes of a sensational sporting comeback took a blow this afternoon as the former Wimbledon champion crashed out of the men’s doubles competition.
The former world No 1 and his partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert were beaten in their first round clash in front of the mum Judy and wife Kim who were supporting Andy in the stands.
Murray’s dreams of once again raising silverware at SW19 now rests on the shoulders of seven-time women’s singles champion Serena Williams after the pair or tennis heavyweights teamed up in a bid for mixed doubles glory.
They were supposed to take to Centre Court yesterday but were rescheduled for this evening after teenage sensation Coco Gauff’s epic comeback bumped them off the fixture list.
Wimbledon’s sixth day has seen Murray compete in his first major tournament since completing a successful hip operation.
He and Williams will be watched by a string of sporting legends who have flocked to the All England Lawns Tennis Club, including England manager Gareth Southgate and Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah.
Andy Murray’s hopes of a sensational sporting comeback took a blow this afternoon as the former Wimbledon champion crashed out of the men’s doubles competition
Wimbledon’s sixth day has seen Murray compete in his first major tournament since completing a successful hip operation
The former pair world No 1 and his partner Pierre-Hugues Herbert were beaten in their first-round clash in front of the Briton’s mum Judy (right) and wife Kim (left) who were supporting Andy in the stands
Murray took a tumble during this afternoon’s first round tie clash against Croatia’s Franko Skugot and Nikola Mektic
Murray appeared dejected after losing in the men’s doubles on day six of the Wimbledon Championships. His dreams of once again raising silverware at SW19 now rests on the shoulders of seven-time women’s singles champion Serena Williams
Scores of tennis lovers have descended on SW19 hoping that yesterday’s thrilling Coco Gauff comeback will build into a Wimbledon Super Saturday as highly anticipated titan duo Andy Murray and Serena Williams take to the court in the mixed doubles
A ream of sports stars have taken their seats in the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s Royal Box including cricketer Jonny Bairstow (back row, grey suit) Sir Chris Hoy (far left), Lord Sebastian Coe (middle) and Sir Mo Farah (far right)
Former Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah at Wimbledon today with his wife Tania Nell smile on arrival before taking their seats in the Royal Box
Gareth and Alison Southgate arrive on day six of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
Lord Sebastian Coe and Carole Annett were all smiles as they arrived at SW19 for the sixth day of the competition
Former heavyweight boxing world champion David Haye (right) and former super-middleweight champion Carl Froch (left) join a ream of sports stars in the Royal Box
The eagerly awaited mixed doubles game will get under way this evening as former Wimbledon champions Andy Murray (right during today’s men’s doubles) and Serena Williams (left during today’s singles match) team up in their first pairs match of the competition
Andy Murray’s mother Judy waits in the stands for the start of her son’s men’s doubles match this afternoon, before he is back in action with Serena Williams later this evening
Andy Murray’s wife Kim Sears takes her guest seats on Court No.2 before her husband competes in the men’s doubles fixture this afternoon
The long-distance runner joins a host of fellow ex-Olympians in the Royal Box this afternoon – such as IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe, cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and sailor Sir Ben Ainslie.
Greats from the worlds of boxing, rugby, netball and golf also took their seats in the exclusive Centre Court box where they watched British player Hannah Dart crash out of the competition after the Australian number one seed Ashleigh Barty beat her in straight sets.
Sir Mo said that he and his wife Tania are relishing ‘some time away from the kids’ and joked: ‘We are both just excited to be away from the kids – it’s just nice to have a little break, just the two of us.’
The father-of-three added: ‘It’s just incredible to have the chance to sit and watch it and enjoy a cup of tea.’
And Sir Chris said: ‘I haven’t seen much of it at all this week because I’ve been working flat out. I’m just looking forward to enjoying another fine day at Wimbledon.’
Fans are also camped outside the All England Lawn Tennis Club in the famous Queue with the hope of snapping up the limited number of tickets released each day.
This morning, a row of suited-and-booted stewards led a procession of spectators into the event which prides itself on its prim and proper tradition.
Johanna Konta and Dan Evans are set to appear before the big weekend crowds as the tournament enters its sixth day.
And teenage sensation Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff’ is pairing with British player Jay Clarke’s in the mixed doubles after the 15-year-old American pulled off a stunning comeback yesterday.
Federer is in action against France’s Lucas Pouille today, and is on course for a semi-final clash with Rafael Nadal
Federer’s wife Mirka in the stands ahead of her huband’s match against France’s Lucas Pouille
Former competition winners Roger Federer (pictured) and Rafael Nadal are both in action today as they both look to add to their Wimbledon championship tallies
Sir Mo (pictured with Lord Coe in the Royal Box) said that he and his wife Tania are relishing ‘some time away from the kids’ and joked: ‘We are both just excited to be away from the kids – it’s just nice to have a little break, just the two of us’
Fans are also camped outside the All England Lawn Tennis Club in the famous Queue with the hope of snapping up the limited number of tickets released each day
Temperatures are expected to reach 69F (21C) in London this morning in a relief after a spell of roasting weather in the capital
England rugby players Maro Itoje (left) and captain Dylan Hartley (right) are applauded as they greet the crowds from the Royal Box
Gareth and Alison Southgate in the Royal Box of Centre Court on day six of the Wimbledon Championships this afternoon
Clarke was initially paired up with Hannah Dart but reportedly dumped her by text in favour of Gauff.
When Gareth Southgate was earlier asked if he had any advice for Gauff, he joked: ‘I think she’s moving in the right direction without any advice from me.’
But the eagerly awaited mixed doubles game will get under way this evening as former Wimbledon champions Andy Murray and Serena Williams team up in their first pairs match of the competition.
Their fixture against Germany’s Andreas Mies and Chile’s Alexa Guarachi was rescheduled after Gauff’s nail-biting match overran yesterday – they are expected to play their game no earlier than 5.30pm.
Serena Williams was in action earlier against 18th-seeded Julia Goerges in the third round of the singles competition, which she won in straight sets.
Former competition winners Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will also play today as they both look to add to their Wimbledon championship tallies.
US tennis legend Billie Jean King fist pumps Czechoslovak-born American former professional tennis player Martina Navratilova in the Royal Box
Serena Williams was in action earlier against 18th-seeded Julia Goerges in the third round of the singles competition, which she won in straight sets
British player Hannah Dart (left) crash out of the competition after the Australian number one seed Ashleigh Barty beat her in straight sets
Teenage sensation Cori ‘Coco’ Gauff made an epic comeback to beat Slovenia’s Polona Hercog on Centre Court yesterday. Today, she will join Britain’s Jay Clarke in the mixed doubles
Former Wimbledon women’s champions Martina Navratilova and Billie Jean King greeted each other with a fist bump.
The ex-world number 1s’ appearance in SW19 came after both women were thrust back into the spotlight following a series of public remarks.
In February, Navratilova grabbed headlines when she claimed transgender women in sport were ‘cheating’ unless they have irreversible surgery to change their anatomy.
And more recently, King defended the US women’s football team after their came under fire for ‘rubbing in’ their thumping 13-0 victory over Thailand in the World Cup.
Andy Murray celebrates during a nail-biting men’s doubles clash with his partner France’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert after winning the first set against Croatia’s Nikola Mektic and Franko Skugor
Spain’s Rafael Nadal takes on Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as the former Wimbledon champion looks to add to his tally of competition victories
Serena Williams is looking to win her eighth Wimbledon championship after victories in 2001, 2009, 2012, 2013 and 2014
House of Commons speaker John Bercow – sporting a Roger Federer t-shirt – was among the Centre Court spectators this afternoon