Murray’s Ball Boy Drama! British superstar Andy’s winning run against John Isner at Wimbledon is thrown into chaos after an eager youngster catches a looping return BEFORE it bounced back
A batboy in the second round of Andy Murray’s second-round clash with John Isner at Wimbledon was bizarrely guilty of catching a looping return before it bounced.
At the end of a marathon third set between the punching pair, Isner was only able to clip the ball aimlessly in the air, allowing his opponent to halve the deficit.
However, while Murray was celebrating lavishly on the field, the bat boy to his left was caught by the camera grabbing the falling shot prematurely.
A ball boy in Andy Murray’s Wimbledon clash against John Isner caught a return prematurely
Murray celebrated lavishly after taking the third set, but the point could have been played again
His actions could have made the British superstar lose the point, or at least cause it to be replayed, with the rules that the ball must first touch the ground.
Technically, Isner’s wild return was still in until it bounced down and out, meaning the towering American could have gotten a let.
However, a linesman also called it out as Murray’s set-clinching point stood.
When the home favorite slammed through the air on Center Court, the bat boy to his left made the mistake
Regulations state that the looping return should have hit the ground first
The 35-year-old found himself two sets behind during the showdown, with Isner’s thumping serve bugging him, before giving himself a glimmer of hope.
The third set, like the second, was won 6-6 across the board, but it was Murray, with the full support of the Center Court crowd behind him, who won the tie-break.
With Isner leading 4-2 in the fourth set, the roof was folded out due to the poor light.
After a short delay, the match was summed up with Isner claiming the fourth set 6-4 to knock Murray out of Wimbledon.