Reigning Wimbledon champion and World number one Andy Murray was eliminated by Sam Querrey in the quarterfinals. The two-time Wimbledon champ has yet to win a Grand Slam this year.Sam Querrey, the lowest remaining seed in the men’s bracket, has upset top-ranked Andy Murray in five sets 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 6-1 at Centre Court on Wednesday.
The reigning Wimbledon Champion has not fared well in Grand Slams this season after earning the world number one ranking at the end of last year. This loss in the quarterfinals comes after failing to reach the last eight in the Australian Open and losing to Stan Wawrinka in the French Open semifinals in May.
Murray battled to a 2-1 set lead, but Querrey dominated Murray in the final two sets. The American had 27 aces in the match, the most powerful of which sealed his first victory in a Wimbledon quarterfinal.
“I’m still in shock myself,” Querrey, 29, said after the match. “On the last point I was so happy to hit the ace.”
“I didn’t start my best, but I just kept with it,” Querrey continued. “Kept swinging away and found my groove in the fourth and fifth sets. And everything seemed to be falling my way then.
The 24th seeded American has never reached a semifinal at a Grand Slam tennis event in his career. His only quarterfinal appearance came in last year’s Wimbledon tournament, before he lost to last year’s runner-up Milos Raonic.
“This feels great. It’s a dream come true,” Querrey said. “Being in a Wimbledon semifinal makes it a lot more special.
Querrey, ranked 28 in the world, will play against Marin Cilic of Croatia in the semifinals on Friday. Cilic defeated Gilles Müller of Luxembourg 3-6, 7-6 (6), 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 on Thursday to advance to the last four.
Djokovic forced to retire
After experiencing shoulder issues on Tuesday, second seeded Novak Djokovic of Serbia retired in the second set of his semifinal against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. The match officially finished 7-6 (2), 2-0 in favor of Berdych.
“It’s my elbow. It’s been bothering me for a year and a half. It’s unfortunate I have to finish Wimbledon like this,” Djokovic, 30, said after the match.
The Serb was playing the second day of an unfortunate back-to-back. His match against Adrian Mannarino was rescheduled after Monday’s fourth round match between Gilles Müller and Rafael Nadal took nearly five hours. Djokovic beat Mannarino in straight sets.
Berdych, 31, reached last year’s Wimbledon semifinals before losing to Murray in straight sets. He reached the final in 2010, the only Grand Slam final he has ever played in his career.
Federer reaches 12th semifinal
Roger Federer still has yet to drop a set at Wimbledon after defeating Milos Roanic of Canada in straight sets 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (4).
The Swiss tennis star has now reached 12 Wimbledon semifinals in his career, the most of any player in the open era. He is seeking his record setting eighth career Wimbledon title.
Federer and Berdych will meet in the second semifinal on Friday.
dv/ft (AP, AFP, dpa)
