Andy Murray’s opponent dissolved into floods of tears last night, impaled on the twin prongs of the British No 1’s brilliance and his own susceptibly long, lean body. Juan Martín Del Potro, of Argentina, quit in the second game of the final set not long before midnight just as Murray’s game was approaching a decisive peak. It was an unsatisfactory end to an extraordinary match.

Murray is into the second round of the BNL D’Italia Masters, where he faces Stanislas Wawrinka, of Switzerland, courtesy of a victory recorded as 5-7, 6-4, 1-0 in his favour. That does not tell half of an absorbing story, for Murray had fallen behind, was warned for an audible obscenity, argued that Del Potro had criticised Judy, his mother, for her support from the stands and then started to play some quite delightful tennis.

Having been messed around so much, it was somehow apt that Del Potro should pull up with a back injury when moving forward to reach another drop shot and have to withdraw, his eyes reddened and swollen with tears. Murray went over and patted him on the back — lightly, it has to be said. The Scot, though, was still seething afterwards about Del Potro’s criticism of his mother. “I will accept lots of things, but not when someone insults my mum, the nicest person in the world,” he said.

The conditions were similar to those in last year’s opening round, when Murray was forced to start, stop and start again before his game and self-belief were gradually whittled down by Gilles Simon, of France.

Steady drizzle made the court almost impossible to penetrate, rhythm was hard to come by and, at times, the opposition was in bewitching form. But these circumstances — and Murray’s belief that officialdom is conspiring against him — are often when the Scot comes into his own.

Only two games were completed before the pair scurried for cover and, upon the resumption, Murray played one of those games for which he has the definitive copyright: there were four drop shots, three successful.

Del Potro, hampered all year by back problems, lacked the toughness to secure his foothold. Murray makes great play of his ability to win three-set matches and he was well on his way when the action abruptly stopped.