Hen man tells beaten Murray to take a break as injured Djokovic bows out for an enforced rest
FULL COVERAGE OF WIMBLEDON DRAMA DAY: PAGES 52-55
other side of it a better player, a better athlete.”
Querrey, who has now knocked out the World No.1 and defending champion here two years in a row, had looked nervous at the start and appeared to be on the way out when he trailed by a set and a break, but the American’s confidence soared as Murray faded.
He served with great power, attacked the net with intelligence and was striking the ball beautifully by the end.
The Californian, whose big game matches his strapping 6ft 6in frame, will be playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final at the 42nd attempt, which is a record in the Open era.
He will face Marin Cilic, who beat Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 after three-and-a-half hours on Court One.
Querrey will be the first American man to play in the last four of a Grand Slam since Andy Roddick was runner-up at here eight years ago. “This is a dream come true,” Querrey said. “To be in the semi-finals and to have that be at Wimbledon makes it even more special.”
With the sun breaking through but the temperature significantly cooler than last week, Murray could not have wished for a better start. The Scot held to love and had won the first seven points of the match by the time Querrey served at 0-40 in the second game.
Querrey, who appeared to be very tight at the start, finally got on the scoreboard with an ace, but a missed forehand on the next point put Murray 2-0 up. It proved to be the only break of serve in the opening set, which Murray won in just 28 minutes.
When Murray broke to go 4-3 up in the second set it seemed that he was coasting, but just when you least expected it the Scot faltered.
Murray slammed his racket into the sole of his shoe in anger after playing a poor service game to allow his opponent to level at 4-4. At 4-5 the Scot made a succession of howlers before Querrey converted his second set point with a beautifully angled backhand winner.
Murray, nevertheless, can be at his most dangerous when he looks at his most vulnerable and the Scot broke immediately at the start of the third set with a deft cross-court backhand. Querrey, however, levelled at 5-5, taking advantage of a poor service game by Murray, as the set went to a tie-break.
If he had gone on to lose the match Querrey would no doubt have had nightmares for years to come about the fourth point of the tie-break, when he trailed 2-1. Murray put up a high lob which was going to land inside the service line, but Querrey chose not to let the ball bounce and hit a dreadful smash into the net.
Murray was soon 6-1 up and, although Querrey saved three set points, he was unable to return serve on Murray’s fourth.
From 1-1 in the fourth set, however, Murray’s level dipped alarmingly. The Scot, suddenly looking flat and lethargic, was failing to chase down balls and was sometimes moving awkwardly when he did attempt to run. Querrey, sensing his chance, won 21 out of 24 points in the middle of the fourth set and broke Murray’s serve three times in a row to level the match at two sets apiece.
By the time Querrey led 3-0 in the deciding set he had won nine of the previous 10 games. Murray, ever the fighter, finally stopped the rot by holding his serve, but there was to be no stopping Querrey, who closed out victory after more than two-anda-half hours with his 27 th ace.
“I’m still in a little bit of shock,” Querrey said after coming off court. “I was so happy to hit the serve in on the last point. I’m just thrilled right now.”
He added: “I didn’t start my best, but I kept with it. I kept swinging and I really found a groove in the fourth and fifth sets. Everything seemed to be falling my way then.”