QUERREY TIME FOR ANDY
Defending champion Andy Murray reached a 10th successive Wimbledon quarterfinal on Monday with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-4 win over Benoit Paire of France.
The world number one will face Sam Querrey on Wednesday, who he leads 7-1 in career meetings, for a place in the semifinals.
“I thought I played well. Maybe a couple of sloppy service games in the first set but that was by far the best I’d hit the ball so far in the tournament. So I’m really pleased with that,” said Murray.
“He’s not an easy guy to play. He’s got one of the best backhands.”
Only Roger Federer and Jimmy Connors (11 each) have reached more consecutive Wimbledon quarterfinals than Murray.
The 30-year-old’s progress is particularly noteworthy as he came into the tournament nursing a hip injury.
“Two weeks ago I was resting, I was also a little bit concerned when you’re having issues a few days before a big event, it’s frustrating,” said Murray. “But I’ve managed it well and I think I’ve played some good stuff.
“That was the best I’ve played so far in the tournament. I’m doing well so hopefully I keep it up.”
Sam Querrey booked a shot in the quarters with a five-set victory over Kevin Anderson.
The US 24th seed beat the unseeded South African 5-7, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-7 (13/11), 6-3.
Querrey famously dumped Novak Djokovic out of Wimbledon in the third round last year.
Roger Federer reached his 50th Grand Slam quarterfinal with a 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 win over Grigor Dimitrov.
Seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer will face either Canada’s Milos Raonic, the sixth seed, or German 10th seed Alexander Zverev for a place in the semi.
Raonic defeated Federer in the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2016.
Federer, 35, is also the second oldest man to make the quarterfinals at Wimbledon behind Ken Rosewall who was 39 when he reached the last-eight in 1971.
Czech 11th seed Tomas Berdych downed eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals.
Berdych, the 2010 runner-up, will face either second-seeded three-time champion Novak Djokovic or French left-hander Adrian Mannarino for a place in the semis.
Lofty Croat Marin Cilic demolished Roberto Bautista Agut 6-2 6-2 6-2, doing the damage on distant Court 12 with his pounding serve and thumping forehand.
The 28-year-old seventh seed has reached the quarterfinals this year almost under the radar with straight-set victories over solid opponents Philipp Kohlschreiber, Florian Mayer and Steve Johnson, before downing Bautista Agut, who is ranked a healthy 19th in the world.
But the Spaniard looked way out of his depth against the 1.98m (6 ft 6 in) Cilic, who used every centimetre of his height on the fast surface to serve nine aces and whack 39 winners past his opponent, who stands 15 cm shorter.
Court 12 is billed as a show court, but it is a small arena well to the south of the All England Club ground and away from the hurly burly of the central stages.
Cilic, a former US Open champion, clearly thrived out of the limelight, wrapping up the match in a brisk one hour 40 minutes.
Bautista Agut tried everything, looking for tight angles on
He’s (Paire) not an easy guy to play. He’s got one of the best backhands Andy Murray
groundstrokes and attempting drop shots. He even tried to finish a long rally in the second set with a lob only to see Cilic jump up and win the point with a high backhand volley.
The in-form Croat, runner-up at the Queen’s warm-up tournament last month, wobbled a little as he served for the match, with the Spaniard saving three set points.
But Cilic sealed the match on the fourth with a big serve that Bautista Agut could only parry into the net.
It is the fourth time in a row that Cilic has reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals and he has rarely looked more comfortable. He will meet Rafa Nadal or Gilles Muller in the last eight on Wednesday.