Another level
Nadal’s set streak persists; Murray survives challenge
LONDON — To appreciate fully just how outstanding Rafael Nadal is at the moment — he has won 28 consecutive completed sets in Grand Slam play — consider what Andy Murray went through Friday at Wimbledon.
Murray’s quest to repeat as the tournament’s champion appeared to be on shaky ground in the third round, particularly through a stressful stretch at Centre Court against Fabio Fognini, the 28th-seeded Italian who won their most recent encounter and had five set points to force this one to a fifth.
There is no telling whether the No. 1-ranked Murray, or his vocal backers, could have handled that test. But they didn’t have to find out, because Murray was steady enough to grab the last five games and beat Fognini 6-2, 4-6, 6-1, 7-5 as the sunlight faded.
“The end of the match was tense,” Murray said, in his typically understated way. “It was a very up-and-down match. I didn’t feel like it was the best tennis at times.”
The set he dropped was the first ceded so far this week by the Big Four: Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Murray and Nadal. That all-conquering quartet combined to win the past 14 Wimbledon championships — half by Federer, three by Djokovic and two apiece by Murray and Nadal.
The latter is coming off a record 10th French Open title, winning all 19 full sets he contested in Paris with as overpowering a performance as can be (one opponent quit because of injury in the middle of the second set). Tack on his nine won this year at the All England Club, including a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory over 30th-seeded Karen Khachanov on Friday, and Nadal’s set streak in majors equals the third-longest run of the Open era.
“I mean, if you don’t hit hard and fast, he’s going to destroy you,” the 21-yearold Khachanov said. “If he has time, he’s dominating with his forehand. And he can play all the angles.”
Nadal put on quite a show in his latest victory. He whipped that big forehand of his; managed to dull serves that topped 130 mph enough to earn 15 break points, converting four; and played skillfully at the net, winning the point on 17 of 21 approaches and going 4-for-4 when he decided to play serve-and-volley.
The closest Nadal has come to conceding a set over his past 10 matches came in the third. Facing a set point while down 6-5 and serving at 30-40, Nadal produced a brilliant power-and-touch combination, hitting a 122 mph serve followed by a well-disguised drop-shot winner.
In Monday’s fourth round, Nadal faces No. 16 Gilles Muller, who beat Aljaz Bedene 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-4, while Murray meets unseeded Benoit Paire, a 6-2, 7-6 (3), 6-3 winner against Jerzy Janowicz. Other matchups: 2014 U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic against No. 18 Roberto Bautista Agut, and unseeded Kevin Anderson vs. No. 12 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or No. 24 Sam Querrey, whose match was suspended Friday night in the fifth set because of darkness.
Women’s fourth-rounders: Venus Williams vs. No. 27 Ana Konjuh, No. 2 Simona Halep vs. twotime Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka; French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko vs. No. 4 Elina Svitolina; and No. 6 Johanna Konta vs. No. 21 Caroline Garcia.
Against the sometimes volatile Fognini, who beat him on clay at Rome in May, Murray fell behind 5-2 in the fourth set as dusk approached. Murray figured if the match went to a fifth, play would be interrupted so the retractable roof could be closed and the tournament’s only artificial lights switched on.
“You’re thinking a little bit about that, as well — a change of conditions and a 20-minute break to think about things before playing a fifth set,” said Murray, whose 2013 title was the first at Wimbledon for a British man in 77 years. “So, obviously, pleased to get off in four.”