Andy Murray will continue his quest for a third Wimbledon title when he takes the court against Sam Querrey on Wednesday. Somewhat surprising quarterfinalist Gilles Muller is facing an in-form Marin Cilic.
(1) Andy Murray vs. (24) Sam Querrey
Murray and Querrey will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday. The head-to-head series stands at 7-1 in favor of Murray, who is 2-0 against Querrey on grass. A 2006 Newport encounter went the Scot’s way via a 7-5, 6-2 decision and he also got the best of Querrey at Wimbledon–in the fourth round, as well–in easy straight sets seven years ago. The two veterans most recently faced each other at this year’s Australian Open, where Murray cruised 6-4, 6-2, 6-4.
Querrey has done extremely well to reach back-to-back Wimbledon quarterfinals. The 28th-ranked American upset Novak Djokovic during his run last summer and so far this fortnight he has picked up five-set wins over Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kevin Anderson. Those were the seventh and eighth five-setters in Querrey’s career at the All-England Club, and they were preceded by more routine defeats of Thomas Fabbiano and Nikoloz Basilashvili. Murray survived a competitive four-setter against Fabio Fognini last Saturday but has otherwise rolled over Alexander Bublik, Dustin Brown, and Benoit Paire. The world No. 1 has not been at his best in 2017, but his hip issue appears to be a minor concern at most and his Wimbledon title defense is off to a stellar start. Murray’s rock-solid service return has always befuddled big servers and an all too familiar fate will likely befall Querrey again on Wednesday.
Pick: Murray in 3
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(16) Gilles Muller vs. (7) Marin Cilic
Don’t count Cilic among those impressed with Querrey’s back-to-back Wimbledon quarterfinal performances. The sixth-ranked Croat has now accomplished that feat on back-to-back-to-back-to-back occasions. He has never reached the semis despite twice coming within one set of doing so, having lost to Djokovic from two sets to one up in 2014 and to Roger Federer from two sets to love up last summer. Djokovic also put an end to Cilic’s tournament in 2015.
Now, for the first time, an opponent outside of the Big 4 awaits Cilic on the second Wednesday. Instead of Rafael Nadal, it is Muller–who took down the Spaniard 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 15-13 in a fourth-round thriller that lasted four hours and 47 minutes. That contest almost never even happened, because the 26th-ranked Luxembourgian also survived a five-setter during second-round action while saving two match points in a 7-5, 6-7(7), 4-6, 6-3, 9-7 victory over Lukas Rosol. Cilic endured no such struggles on his way to the last eight, steamrolling past Philipp Kohlschreiber, Florian Mayer, Steve Johnson, and Roberto Bautista Agut all in straight sets. With the 2014 U.S. Open champion once again looking like a Grand Slam title contender and with Muller coming off a physically draining, emotionally charged battle, this one should be one-way traffic.
Pick: Cilic in 3
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wish to see Muller winning this and go all the way to final facing Fed.
Yes that is my exact wish. One of the few guys I would feel minimal sadness if he beat Fed in that final too. I’d still root for Roger but would be epic if Muller won his first slam. He is serving so well still!! If he keeps this up he’s winning. And I think he is going to. He doesn’t seem tired AT ALL. In fact Cilic seems more tired LOL yet he’s played a bunch of quick matches.
Actually Cilic doesn’t seem tired he just seems rattled by Muller’s game. As most are on grass. Let’s go Muller get this done I’m pumped for my guy Gilles
Cilic seems to be suffering from the ‘Rafa’ syndrome, he’s nervous and edgy now in the QF (like Rafa in R4) here as he hadn’t gone past the QF stage here despite reaching it thrice before this year. Muller is not helping him here of course!
Yeah Lucky!…But for the sake of my Bracket,i hope he will not having brain freeze like our man…as much as i want to see Muller win but i love my Bracket even more!!Sorry Benny!!
I get it Mira lol. I have Cilic in the final in my bracket. Muller is just one of my favorites so I care more that he wins than my bracket. I like Cilic too though. But I would just love to see Muller in the semis.
Benny!…u got Cilic till final?What’s your moniker there Benny?And what Bracket we’re talking about here Ben?Tourneytopia,TDC or TG or TX?Or jalep’s Bracket?Hehe…
Tourneytopia
??? that was pretty good lucky
Come on Gilles!! What a return at 3-2 in the breaker. He’s aggressive on both return and serve especially on second. Love what I’m seeing from —- fuck he just double faulted I’m gonna kill my self. Set point Cilic.
Wow! Good point Cilic! With that he wins the second set!
Muller does falter, with a DF at crucial moment; see Benny, that’s possible right?
Even if Cilic is to lose this match, he’s too good not to at least get a set, I feel.
Yes never said it wasn’t LOL. Muller with more double faults than anyone at this years tournament. Also more aces than anyone.
So Rafa banging his head at the door frame while jumping, just before he walked out onto the court, was a sign of things to come, that he would or should bang his head (on the wall or something) when he lost the first two sets to Muller. He should have hung tough to get to a TB and waited for Muller to falter like he did vs Cilic!
Ha ha, I’m just joking, poor Rafa, he’s disappointed enough. I do love him and hope he does well, and I’m feeling sorry for him; hope he’s fine and enjoying himself back home by now.
There’re always the other slams to win, and he already has two Wimbledon titles, no need to be too down for not winning a third one.
Clutch by Cilic to win that TB.
Lord, Andy won the 3rd set TB. thank-you.
No no no no no no no no
we might have new Wimbledon champion this year. 50% possibility.
Murray getting beat like the bitch he is
With all the propping of Murray and playing on Centet Court, they can’t make him play well enough to win.
Centre court home-boy meltdown 😉
Murray was playing like crap. If Paire wasn’t such a head case, he should have beat him.
This is why I don’t believe in conspiracy theories. You have to play well enough to get through. Murray did not do that.
Congratulations to those who picked Querrey. I know that I did not have Murray going that far in my bracket. I am not sure if I picked him to even get to the quarterfinals.
Yeah I feel same way about Paire match. Paire could’ve won he just was so mental.
YEAHHHHH ?? LETS GO SAM!! ? SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR HE BEATS THE DEFENDING CHAMP!! Get wrecked Murray
cilic will be in the final
Muller was the better player in the first two sets in my opinion but got a little tight and Cilic was gutsy. Now Cilic looking like the better player since the end of the second. Muller is such a fighter though he is hanging in this set. Come on Gilles take it to five!!
Ha ha, I selected in the poll for Querrey to win in five, and Cilic to win in four; looks likely now!
I polled for Raonic in five and Berdych in four. Let’s see if we have all big servers in the last four, and all big four to falter! Two big four gone, two more to go!
Very sad Andy lost today…but he didn’t retire even though he’s hurting and keep on fighting and he goes down like a great champion that he is…Best of luck for your recovery Andy!!
Well Muller just broke Cilic. Now Muller has the opportunity to serve for the fourth set.
Cilic is mentally so weak! Goodness! The match is his to lose, yet he’s about to throw it away! Haven’t seen such a weak minded slam holder!
This is what I have been saying about Cilic. He is not strong mentally. He seemed to have control of the fourth set and then let it get away. That’s the problem with Cilic.
It’s going to be decided in a fifth set.
Gilles!! Yes!! Let’s go Muller!!
Benny- If Gilles can pull off another 5 set upset… Hell, if he can get past Cilic, he will have a great shot at making the final! Imagine that- a guy who had never even won a tour-level title has a chance to, at age 35, win his first title, make his first clay final, win ANOTHER title, AND make his first slam final, all in one season! Even if he doesn’t make the final, it’s been a dream season for him. The guy has impressed me so much. I should never have doubted his mental fortitude…
I doubt so! Muller looks to be tiring out.
worthy qf, in 5 sets.
As I said, if Rafa had beaten Muller he would have beaten this Cilic!
Cilic already up a break. It looks like Muller may have used up whatever he had left to tske it to a fifth set.
That’s what I am saying! Rafa is stronger fitness wise and would have been able to hang in there and fight…Muller’s overspent from the five-setter with Rafa and Cilic is capitalizing on it…
The thing is, after 4+hours, Rafa won’t have the energy for Cilic. Muller plays a different game (S&V) and didn’t run as much as Rafa; with his big serve, he still could hang on to his service games and forces Cilic to go the distance.
Anyway I doubt Muller is winning here.
I tend to agree about Rafa not having enough after such a grueling match with all that running around. I think we can think whatever we want, but that match would have taken a lot out of Rafa. He hasn’t played a five set match since the AO back in January.
Now Cilic with the double break. It’s over.
Hmmmm, I’m not so evil after-all, not getting any joy from Muzza’s loss.
Querrey though, way to go! This is a first Slam semi for him, no? If so, hearty congratulations indeed!
I don’t get joy out of Murray’s loss. It’s obvious that he was struggling with a hip injury. I didn’t think he would win this time. I just don’t like the bias and favoritism he gets at this tournament. You still have to play well enough to get through and Querrey was too good today.