Murray to play at Hurlingham Club as he warms up for defence of his Wimbledon title
Andy Murray is to warm up for Wimbledon with two exhibition matches at the Aspall Tennis Classic at Hurlingham next week. The world No 1 has entered following his early exit at Queen’s Club, where he suffered a shock loss to world No 90 Jordan Thompson on Tuesday.
Last year’s Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic, Jo-wilfried Tsonga, Tomas Berdych, Lucas Pouille and Tommy Haas are also playing at Hurlingham.
The Scot, who last played at the event in 2014 after he lost in the last 16 at Queen’s, 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.”
As defending champion, the 30-year-old will play the first match of the Championships on Wimbledon’s Centre Court on 3 July.
Gilles Muller and Feliciano Lopez defied age and unseeded status as they reached the Queen’s semi-finals. Lopez, 35, defeated seventh-seeded Berdych 7-6 (5), 6-7 (1), 7-5, while Muller, 34, beat Sam Querrey in straight sets.
“I’m a little bit old. I’m going to be 36 but I’m enjoying the moment a lot and I think I’m playing some of my best tennis,” said Lopez, who will face sixth-seeded Grigor Dimitrov today in a repeat of the 2014 final which the Bulgarian won.
Dimitrov came through a topsy-turvy encounter with Daniil Medvedev of Russia 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Muller will face Marin Cilic who cruised past Donald Young 6-4, 7-5.
Petra Kvitova secured the best win of her comeback so far, beating Kristina Mladenovic to reach the semi-finals of the Aegon Classic in Birmingham. Playing her fifth match since returning from the horrific stabbing at her home six months ago, she defeated Mladenovic 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).
Kvitova will next play fellow Czech Lucie Safarova, who defeated Daria Gavrilova 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 7-6 (7/5).
Garbine Muguruza will face Australia’s Ashleigh Barty. Muguruza had just levelled at one set all with Coco Vandeweghe when the American retired due to a foot problem. Barty was leading qualifier Camila Giorgi 5-2 when the Italian also retired.