Andy Murray Makes a Satisfying, if Not Rousing, Return in London

Tony O'Brien/Action Images, via Reuters

LONDON — In many ways, Thursday’s scene here in London was reminiscent of the one that played out a year ago.

Again, Andy Murray was returning to Queen’s Club from a long layoff that included surgery.

Again, it was a match that often lacked much atmosphere despite a supportive crowd. Last year, it was because he was playing a friend and mercurial opponent in Nick Kyrgios, who felt awkward winning against a competitor he was close to.

This time, it was a first-round doubles match late in the day, and more than half the crowd had departed before the end of the first set.

But to Murray, the internal feeling was completely different. In 2018, he was limited by…