There were more rain delays at Wimbledon on Saturday, but that did not stop it from being an ideal day for Andy Murray. Most importantly for the 2013 champion, he defeated John Millman 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the fourth round. The second-seeded Scot cracked eight aces without double-faulting and broke serve six times to advance in two hours and 10 minutes.
“I think I’m playing well,” Murray commented. “You know, some of the tennis I played at the end of the matches, in particular the last two matches, in the third sets of both of those, have been very good.”
It was too good for Millman, who at least relished the opportunity of playing on the most famous court in the sport.
“It was good,” the Aussie assured. “Centre Court is a special place for a tennis player at Wimbledon. Yeah, it was special. I left it all out there. Andy was too good. But, yeah, I will remember it for a long time.”
But this day will be remembered for a different match that was put on Court 1, where Sam Querrey shocked two-time defending champion Novak Djokovic in four sets. Djokovic had won both the Australian Open and French Open this season, held all four major titles, and was aiming for a calendar-year Grand Slam.
“Rather than it being sort of a surprise, it should really be sort of almost celebrated now, what he’s actually done,” Murray said of the world No. 1. “I mean, it’s incredible. He broke a number of records, winning all four slams; what was it, 30 consecutive Grand Slam matches? It’s amazing. Yeah, obviously I would imagine today he’d be disappointed and stuff. But looking back, it’s been probably the best 12 months in tennis for years.
“It doesn’t (affect me) because if I was to reach the final, then it may have some bearing really, but it doesn’t right now. My draw’s still exactly the same.”
And it’s a draw that, although difficult, has some advantages. Only two men–Murray and Bernard Tomic–in the bottom half of the bracket are through to the last 16. Two third-round matches have not even started and four others were postponed from Saturday to middle Sunday because of darkness.
This marks the first time since 2004 that the middle Sunday will be used for play.
Murray, who is now the odds-on favorite to win Wimbledon with Djokovic out, awaits either Nick Kyrgios or Feliciano Lopez in the fourth round. His four possible quarterfinal opponents are also still in progress.
Topics: 10sballs.com, Andy Murray, ATP London, Grass tennis John Millman, Ricky Dimon, Tennis News, The Championships, Wimbledon 2016