Andy Murray loses the Wimbledon men’s singles final to Roger Federer, but Tennis Scotland’s vice president tells Channel 4 News that Murray “will be back”.
Andy Murray was hoping to become the first male champion since Fred Perry in 1936.
But he was beaten in an electric final by Swiss veteran Federer, who won the match 4-6 7-5 6-3 6-4 to equal Pete Sampras’s record with his seventh Wimbledon title.
The crowd rose as Federer took match point, applauding for both players, who hugged, Murray appearing to congratulate his rival.
Murray broke down as he paid tribute to his team, as well as the crowd, in an emotional interview on centre court.
His girlfriend Kim Sears and mother Judy Murray were also reduced to tears by his unusually emotional words.
“I’m going to try this and it’s not going to be easy,” the 25-year-old said, to deafening applause.
“First I would like to congratulate Roger, I was getting asked the other day after I won my semi-final, is this your best chance, Roger is 30 now? He isn’t bad for a 30-year-old.
The support has been incredible. Andy Murray
“He played a great tournament, he had some struggles early on with his back and showed what a fight he still has in him, so congratulations, you deserve it.”
Speaking about “Team Murray”, he said: “I’m going to try and not look at them because I’ll probably start crying again but everyone who is in that corner over there, who has supported me…we did a great job, so thank you.
“And last of all to you guys,” he said to the crowd. “Everybody always talks about the pressure of playing at Wimbledon, how difficult it is.
“It’s not the people watching, they make it so much easier to play.
“The support has been incredible,” he added, breaking down, as his mother Judy was also seen dissolving into tears.
Tennis Scotland’s Vice President Ian Conway, who knows Andy Murray, told Channel 4 News that the Scot “would be back” and that “the nation will be behind him”.
Picture gallery: The men's Wimbledon final in pictures
Murray had started well, taking the first set to rapturous applause.
But despite deafening support from a partisan crowd, he lost the second set, then the third – which was interrupted by rain for the roof to be put on Centre Court, and went on to lose a fourth set.
As it looked like he would lose the match, cries of “come on Andy”, “you can do it Andy” rang out around the historic court.
After winning his service game to take the set to 5-4, during the break the court rang out with chants and applause as a large part of the 15,000-strong crowd willed the Scot to battle back.
Even the Duchess of Cambridge joined in from the Royal Box, watched by her sister Pippa Middleton.
But the support was to no avail as Murray lost the final.
Federer, whose wife Mirka was watching with their twins Myla Rose and Charlene Riva, congratulated his rival, joking: “He will at least win one grand slam.”
Of his seven Wimbledon title record, equalling Pete Sampras, he said: “He is my hero and it feels amazing.”