Murray played solidly, closing with an ace on his third match point, and setting up a quarter-final matchup with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The two women brought an oft-employed cliché to life, proving conclusively that sport does occasionally throw up situations where everyone and the sport is indeed the victor. Tickets to the show are naturally valuable, but not many would have bargained for a stub to access court three. The seven-time champion achieved his double landmark by seeing off Steve Johnson of the United States 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 in the fourth round. Radwanska found herself on the losing end of a three-set match against Dominicka Cibulkova. However, the world number three would not be denied her victory, as she goes on to win four straight games to take the third round match after a thirty-three minutes second set.
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The stark contrast in the styles of the two women made for an exciting clash. We can postpone it. But I’m still here, and I’m playing my match tomorrow.
Playing with her left thigh taped, Venus moved quite well, covering the court with speed and ideal timing, offering up enough defense and waiting for Shvedova’s miscues.
But she is no stranger to success at the majors winning the 2013 French Open and 2014 US Open women’s doubles with close friend Ekaterina Makarova, who was a bridesmaid at her wedding in November previous year. Cibulkova suffered a poor service game in the twelfth, conceding a match point to the pugnacious Pole. “She doesn’t have that any more”. The diminutive Slovak produced a stunning down the line victor under pressure to stay even at 6-6. She broke Cornet eight times out of 12 attempts.
It was an incredible experience to watch a match of such high intensity and quality.
It was the second time in two weeks that she had beaten Radwanska after a quarter-final victory at Eastbourne. Cibulkova maintained a high level of first serves in play, 74% to be precise.
Cibulkova, ranked 18 in the world, survived a monumental 11th game in the set, saving match point with a forehand victor.
But remarkably she has been in inspired form on grass over the last month, winning her first title on the surface at Eastbourne before sweeping into the last eight at Wimbledon for the first time since 2011. If not for the fact that this was just the third round, it would have gone into legend as one of the finest contests on the green meadows of SW19.
Chibulkova said on Monday after the match, “I am not basically a grass court player”.
After falling behind 4-1, Bouchard smashed her racket on the ground and received a point penalty for racket abuse. I hope my would-be husband Miso Navara will not get angry.
“We chose this because I never saw myself as such a great grass court player, you know”, said Cibulkova afterwards. The 21-year old Keys, now the youngest player in the draw, is one win away from at least equaling her quarterfinal result last year.
“But it’s no problem”.
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When she defeated Agnieszka Radwanska in the fourth round on Monday, she admitted one more win would mean the wedding would have to be postponed. Then I woke up, I say, ‘No, I have to play match today.
