You have Roger [Federer] that’s won it I believe seven or eight times, seven times, been here in the finals ten times.
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He looked subdued for long periods against Querrey – passive in rallies he usually dominates and a step slower.
No player, male or female, has won a Golden Slam since Steffi Graf in 1988.
Murray and Federer are still on track to meet in the semifinals, but the pair have a couple of tough matches to go through before they reach the quarterfinals, where there will undoubtedly be another tough match before they can meet. So hopefully I can keep it going, make a quarter-final of a slam, which I’ve never done before.
Until now, the 28-year-old Californian was best known for unusual off-court episodes.
With rumours that he was struggling with a shoulder injury, the world No.1 lost the third-round clash 7-6 6-1 3-6 7-6 after returning to No.1 Court following the previous day’s rain delay. “I think with, like, the stage that it was at, here at Wimbledon, to beat Novak, who is playing at such a high level for the past five years, I would say so”, said 28-year-old Querrey after seeing off the US, Australian and French Open champion.
Facing yet another critical point during a match he never controlled, Novak Djokovic stretched for a half-volley drop victor, held up his right index finger – reminding the world, “I’m No. 1!” – then threw an uppercut and bellowed.
A 3-1 lead disappeared and despite Djokovic saving a first match point with an ace, it was Querrey who was leaping in the air in celebration when the Serb pulled a forehand wide on the second.
Querrey needed just two hours Monday to dispatch Frenchman Nicolas Mahut in straight sets.
“If I didn’t win, there would have been a lot of: Wow, it was kind of a fluky match against Novak because you didn’t back it up”, he told reporters.
“I felt stuck in the second round for a while”.
On U.S. Independence Day, he also became the first American man to reach the quarter-final at Wimbledon – or any other slam – since 2011. Here’s a poorly kept secret: American men have not been very good at tennis lately. “I’m not sure who I play (next) right now, but I’m going to be happy with this for the moment and look forward to the next round”. But the task of a calendar Grand Slam is proving too much even for Djokovic.
Raonic possesses a best-ever serve of 143mph which is especially potent on grass and carried him to the Wimbledon semi-finals two years ago and the Queen’s Club final last month.
In order to do so he will have to get past the extremely risky Milos Raonic, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2014 and recently finished runner-up to Andy Murray at Queen’s Club. Raonic made his first comeback from two sets down on Monday, 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 against David Goffin.
And then there’s Murray.
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Women’s third seed Agnieszka Radwanska is considered the top competition remaining for Williams. Murray dazzled. He hit 36 winners, made six unforced errors and didn’t face a break point.
