Pairing a steel resolve with his fabled metal hip, the 36-year-old was allowing British tennis fans to dream. Middle-aged men in well-tailored suits jumped to their feet, revealing flamboyant cufflinks as they pumped their fists to celebrate winning shots. Women clapped hands above their heads, beseeching Murray -- the man who, a decade ago, had ended the 77-year wait for a British Wimbledon champion -- to finish off his youthful rival and write another chapter. Disappointment drenched the arena, tempered with admiration for the Scottish warrior who has done so much for British tennis. When asked how confident he was that he would be competing at Wimbledon next year, Murray said: "I don't know.

---

Persons: Andy Murray, strode, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Murray, beseeching Murray, Wimbledon's, it's, Scot, Tsitsipas, Ossian Shine, Ken Ferris Organizations: Court, British Wimbledon, U.S, Wimbledon, Thomson Locations: British, Scottish