Injury finally catches up with Murray as he falls to Querrey

Scot exits Wimbledon – but will retain world No 1 status as Djokovic pulls out

MURRAY BEATEN: Continued from page 52

The US Open is less than seven weeks away but both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have shown this season the benefit of taking a lengthy break.

Murray said: “Before the tournament, it was very short-term because you want to play Wimbledon.

“I’ll get the best advice I can, then stick with that. If it means taking a few weeks’ rest, then so be it. If it means training and doing the right rehab and stuff, then I’ll do that.

“I did the best that I could. Obviously I managed to get through a bunch of matches and did OK. The US Open’s six, seven weeks away. I’ll sit down with my team tomorrow and come up with a plan for what I have to do next.”

Murray declined to go into specifics on his hip problem but said earlier in the tournament it is something that has affected him on and off for the better part of a decade.

“I’ve been dealing with it for a very long time during my career,” he said.

“Obviously as you get older, things are a little bit tougher to manage. There’s a bit more wear and tear there.

“I’m sure moving forward I’ll be able to get through it. I just need to do all of the right things and be even more diligent and professional than I have been recently.

“I feel like I’ve done all of the right stuff, but I’ll try to do more, try to get myself in better shape. Hopefully I’ll come through the other side of it a better player, a better athlete.

“Thisyearhasobviouslybeenfrustrating at times. It’s not been the easiest. But I’ll want to obviously come back and try and compete for majors.”

The hip problem is the latest physical issue in a difficult season for Murray, who has also been afflicted by shingles, an elbow injury and two bouts of flu.

He has only won one title, in Dubai in February, but Novak Djokovic’s retirement against Tomas Berdych means Murray will hang on to the world No 1 ranking for now.

The 30-year-old knows his time at the top is limited, though, saying: “I haven’t played well enough this year to deserve to stay there for much longer.”

Querrey had never been further than the last eight at any grand slam and he made a horribly nervous start, losing eight of the first nine points and the opening three games.

There was no way to salvage the first set, and the 24th seed looked in big trouble when Murray broke again to lead 4-3 in the second. Querrey recovered from 0-40 but a beautifully feathered lob helped Murray create a fourth chance and this time he took it, drawing the error as he forced the tall American to volley off his toes.

Querrey had not come close to breaking the Murray serve but, just when the world No 1 looked in total control, he allowed his opponent back into the match.

A limp drop shot prompted Murray to hit his head and foot with his racket in frustration and Querrey seized his chance.

The 29-year-old’s big forehand was coming into play as he started to push Murray around behind the baseline and then charge the net.

Murray had gone right off the boil, his first serve and forehand deserting him, and it was Querrey skipping back to his chair after a backhand winner gave him the set.

The crowd were stunned by the sudden turnaround but Murray ensured his malaise did not linger with an immediate break of the Querrey serve at the start of the third set.

And he held on to his advantage comfortably until he came to try to serve out the set at 5-4. Suddenly Murray slipped back into passive mode and Querrey, hitherto unknown as a man capable of hitting searing backhand winners, found another one at a crucial moment to break back.

Murray avoided a repeat of the second set to force a tie-break and reaped the rewards of getting one more ball back in play when Querrey dumped a simple smash into the net to trail 3-1.

Murray was cruising at 6-1 but Querrey saved three set points before the Scot took it on the fourth with a strong serve.

However, it quickly became clear that this would not be one of those matches where Murray survives a sticky situation and then pulls away.

He began to struggle badly when moving to his backhand side and Querrey broke to love in the third game of the fourth set.

A matter of minutes later he had won the set, and it appeared a hopeless cause for Murray as Querrey made it nine games in a row to move 3-0 up in the third.

Murray at least got on the board but he was in no state to launch one of his famous comebacks and Querrey clinched victory with his 27th ace.

Murray insisted he never thought about throwing in the towel, saying: “I knew I wasn’t going to do any major damage by playing. So obviously I wanted to try, if possible, to find a way at the end. Obviously it wasn’t the case.

“Sam served great. The end of the fourth set and fifth set, felt like he hardly missed any first serves. He was acing me pretty much every time.

“I wasn’t getting enough power on my serve to put him in any bother there. So he was dictating all of the points.

“Obviously the end was a bit of a struggle. But I almost found a way to get into the semis. I wasn’t that far away.”