Worried Murray heads for Hurlingham

ANDY MURRAY will make an emergency stop at the Hurlingham Club next week in an effort to relocate his form and confidence in time for Wimbledon. The world No 1 confirmed yesterday that he will play two singles exhibition matches at the private members’ club in Fulham to correct the tailspin that has wrecked his 2017 season so far. He was beaten by world No 90 Jordan Thompson in the first round at Queen’s on Tuesday, his sixth defeat by a player outside the top 20 in 2017. He played at Hurlingham in 2013 before his first Wimbledon triumph and again in 2014. Milos Raonic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych are all confirmed to play exhibition matches at the club, while it is understood Rafael Nadal could also appear. Murray said: ‘It is great to be back at the Hurlingham Club. It’s a great setting and an ideal opportunity to get grass court practice ahead of Wimbledon.’ Roger Federer is on course to win the Gerry Weber Open in Halle for a ninth time after beating Florian Mayer in the quarter-finals. He needed just an hour and six minutes to see off the German 6-3, 6-4, serving 11 aces and taking two of his 12 break points. Federer now faces Karen Khachanov, who beat fellow Russian Andrey Rublev 7-6, 4-6, 6-3. France’s Richard Gasquet is also through to the last four after a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 victory over Robin Haase. Petra Kvitova’s return after suffering a knife attack in December is all coming together in time for Wimbledon. In the Aegon Classic yesterday she beat French world No 12 Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 7-6. Kvitova said: ‘It was a mix of emotions because the match point was lucky. So I was happy, but on the other side I was like, I’m sorry.’ Next up in the semi-finals is her fellow Czech, Lucie Safarova.