HE put in an error-strewn performance and later admitted it was a bad day at the office.
The 27-year-old reportedly said "shut the f*** up" to himself in the second set and in the third was heard to exclaim: "Five minutes before the f***ing match".
Murray, who last year became the first British male to win at SW19 since Fred Perry in 1936, lost 6-1 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 to Grigor Dimitrov in the quarter-finals yesterday.
The world number five made an uncharacteristic 37 unforced errors and his opponent later said he thought something seemed amiss with Murray.
It wasn't a great day
The 23-year-old Bulgarian regularly practices with the two-time Grand Slam champion and is a close friend of his.
He added: "I have practised quite a few times with him and I know how he is striking the ball when he is at his best, I know how he is playing when he is not at his best.
"I think it’s just a feeling that I had."
His spokesperson Matt Gentry, who yesterday sat in the players' box, said he had not heard Murray reprimand himself on SW19's showpiece court.
But he did say that the British number one and 2012 US Open champion had been "off his game".
Mr Gentry said: "He always mutters to himself. Occasionally his language is a bit colourful and he does talk to himself.
"I think they were utterances of frustration."
He said: "I'm especially disappointed with the way I started the match.
"I played a poor first set and I felt like that gave him confidence at the beginning.
"I needed to have played better at the start and then in the second set it got tight at the end and could have gone either way.
"If I'd manage to come back with him being a break up and then maybe I would have been able to find a way back in.
"But it wasn't a great day."
Kate, 32, grimaced with almost every point dropped by the Scot in his straight-sets defeat.
William, also 32, could barely watch and held his head in his hands as Murray ended Britain’s hopes of a repeat of last year’s win that ended a 77-year wait for a men’s singles champion.
As he walked off court, Murray, 27, respectfully bowed to his royal fans, who were among 15,000 supporters crammed into Centre Court.
He later revealed he had advised jubilant Dimitrov, 23, to do the same.
Last night Murray refused to blame the pressure of an expectant public for his lacklustre exit.
And he paid special tribute to the tens of thousands of fans who watched his crusade on Murray Mount.
“In terms of the expectation, the pressure, it was no different to any of the other years. The crowd have been great the whole event.
“Not everyone can get in to watch on Centre Court but I know many more people out there have been behind me. I appreciate it – it always makes a difference. That’s why I love coming back here.”
Murray looked unusually riled throughout the match against the man known as Baby Federer, in which he won just nine games.
He repeatedly looked towards the players’ box for inspiration from a trio of women who have become his rock.
Murray has not made a final since undergoing back surgery in September. But he insisted: “We’ll see whether I can come back stronger and come back better.”
Last night Dimitrov revealed he was given the perfect pre-match advice by his girlfriend, Russian star Maria Sharapova, 27, who told him: “Go and win it.”
Murray’s defeat came after England crashed out of the World Cup. But sports fans still have the Tour de France and Commonwealth Games to look forward to...
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