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Amanda Barlow

Wimbledon: Murray motors while Djokovic crashes out

Britwatch Team
Tennis

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By Amanda Barlow

  • Andy Murray [2] def. John Millman 6-3 7-5 6-2
  • Sam Querrey [28] def. Novak Djokovic [1] 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5)

WIMBLEDON, UK – Andy Murray was the highest seed standing after Sam Querrey shattered Novak Djokovic’s dream of a calendar slam in the third round.

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Andy Murray [2] def. John Millman 6-3 7-5 6-2

Murray motored past Millman to book his place in the last 16 at Wimbledon, and more importantly escaped the backlog from the poor weather.

The Brit was off to a swift start jumping out to a 3-0 lead but Millman was not about to roll over, breaking the Brit to get things back on serve, but folding on his next service game.

It took Murray a couple of chances to turn around the first set before a more competitive second set. Again Millman would break back to level, with Murray breaking straight away in a long game finally taking his chance on the fifth break point, before serving out the set.

He found another gear in the final set, again breaking quickly twice for a 3-0 lead and this time there was no recourse for the Aussie.

There was a lot of frustration for the players, with the switch between sudden sharp showers followed by sunshine in a pattern that resulted with the players coming off and on again repeatedly around the grounds.

Eventually though, the All England Club had to give in to good sense and close the roof to get this game finished as the race is on to beat the conditions, and have all the fourth round matches set for ‘Manic Monday.’

Murray told BBC Sport: “I thought it was a good match, a lot of long rallies. John moves well and doesn’t make too many unforced errors.

“When you go indoors it slows the conditions down a bit so it wasn’t easy to hit too many winners. I had to be patient and played some good stuff in the third set.”

Murray will play the winner of the match between Nick Kyrgios and Feliciano Lopez, which was suspended at 1-1 for bad light.

 

Sam Querrey [28] def. Novak Djokovic [1] 7-6(6) 6-1 3-6 7-6(5)

Of course the big news of the day was the final undoing of Djokovic after the shock of being 0-2 down to the big serving American when play was suspended for weather, on Friday.

However, with doubts over Querrey’s ability to close out big matches, coupled with the speed at which Djokovic steamed out to a 4-0 lead in the third set made it look like just a blip, like last year after going two sets down to Kevin Anderson last year.

The break point chances came think and fast – first for Djokovic who had the momentum, forcing Querrey to save eight in his first three service games alone.

Querrey was not without his opportunities too and after being under pressure – after fending off six break points on his own serve, the American had a total of five of his own on the Djokovic serve but could not find a way through.

First blood went to the defending champion, who broke for a chance to serve for the set to level the match. The tide was turned as Querrey got back on an even keel to hang with him and forth a tie-break.

It looked as though it was Djokovic’s racquet – leading 3-1, before Querrey inched his way back into the tie-break – and his fate was sealed as Djokovic pulled a forehand wide to send Querrey leaping into the air.

There had been concerns about the nature of Djokovic’s loss of the second set, and his practice had not seemed particularly great. But Djokovic paid his dues to Querrey’s performance, and batted away speculation, telling reporters:

“Not really [healthy]. But it’s not the place and time to talk about it. The opponent was playing on a very high level and he deserved to win.”

Querrey, who has been as high as No. 17 in the world, but is now ranked No. 41 can handle the grass – he is a former Queen’s Club champion and with his serve, the points soon rack up. The American will face Nicolas Mahut in the fourth round.

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