Andy Murray fails to answer Querrey
FINAL FOUR The American will play Marin Cilic in the semis while Roger Federer set to face Tomas Berdych QUERREY BEAT MURRAY 36, 64, 67 (4), 61, 61
Andy Murray’s Wimbledon title defence evaporated on Centre Court in a painful five-set demise to Sam Querrey on Wednesday as the hip injury that has dogged the world number one throughout the tournament finally got the better of him.
Murray’s hopes of becoming the first Briton to retain a grand slam title since Fred Perry in 1936 were shredded as he hobbled helplessly to a 3-6, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-1 quarterfinal defeat.
The encounter ended in almost brutal fashion, as Murray struggled to move freely around the court in the final two sets and the big-serving Querrey ruthlessly put him to the sword, wrapping up victory with his 27th booming ace.
Despite the best efforts of the Centre Court crowd to cajole a miracle recovery from the limping Briton, Murray’s troublesome hip proved beyond help and he was swiftly dispatched, with the final two sets taking just under 47 minutes.
Querrey can now lay claim to the title of Wimbledon’s chief giant-killer, after slaying then champion Novak Djokovic last year. He becomes the first American man to reach a grand slam semi-final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.
There was another quarterfinal surprise later Wednesday, when three-time champion Novak Djokovic stopped playing because of a right arm injury while trailing 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 7-6 (2), 2-0. Berdych will face Roger Federer next.
Federer looked in supreme form as he further confirmed his standing as favourite for the Wimbledon title by trouncing Milos Raonic in straight sets.
These two last met at the semifinal stage here last year, when Raonic defeated the Swiss in a five-set thriller, but the contrast on Centre Court on Wednesday was startling as Federer cruised through to the last four, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4).
The third seed was at his graceful, ruthless best against Raonic, who was simply no match for his opponent’s seemingly effortless precision, despite an improved showing in the third set.
“I’m still in shock myself,” he said after setting up a semifinal encounter with Marin Cilic, who reached the semifinals at the All England Club for the first time.The seventh-seeded Croat beat Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 on the No. 1 Court .
“I didn’t start my best but kept with it and kept swinging and I hit my groove in the fourth and fifth sets.
“It feels great and it’s a dream come true ... to get to a semifinal and have it happen at Wimbledon makes it a bit more special.”
Havingtouredthegame’smost awkward and unconventional opponents in the opening four rounds, Murray finally got to face a more routine tennis archetype.
I am not celebrating a victory on the court, I have become the world number one. This means a lot.
me. Actually, I can’t even realise what I have achieved,” Pliskova wrote in a post on Instagram.
Despite never having won a grand slam tournament, the Monte-Carlo based player becomes the first Czech to be number one since the rankings were introduced in 1975.
Czech-born Martina Navratilova, who won 18 singles majors, became number one in 1978 but was representing the U.S. by then. “Karolina is an exemplary athlete on and off the court and she truly deserves this fantastic moment in her career,” WTA CEO and chairman Steve Simon said in a statement. Pliskova has won three titles this year, in Brisbane, Doha and the Wimbledon warm-up event at Eastbourne.