As the pressure mounts on Andy Murray to capture a second Wimbledon title, the world No. 2 will face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga during quarterfinal action on Wednesday. Milos Raonic and Sam Querrey are also aiming for a place in the semis.
(12) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs. (2) Andy Murray
Murray and Tsonga will be meeting for the 15th time in their careers when they collide in the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Wednesday. An alarmingly lopsided head-to-head series has Murray out in front 12-2, including 5-0 on grass and 2-0 at the All-England Club. They squared off at this event in both 2010 (quarterfinals) and 2012 (semis), with the Scot getting the job done in four sets on each occasion. They have not clashed since a pair of encounters last summer, when Murray prevailed 7-5, 7-6(10), 6-2 in a Davis Cup showdown on the grass courts of Queen’s Club and 6-4, 6-4 at the Montreal Masters. Tsonga last beat his nemesis two years ago in Toronto, via a 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 decision.
Murray’s march through this fortnight has been just about perfect so far, featuring straight-set beatdowns of Liam Broady, Yen-Hsun Lu, John Millman, and Nick Kyrgios. The second seed is a perfect 9-0 on the green stuff, a record that features a title at Queen’s Club, following his French Open final loss to Novak Djokovic. Tsonga endured a much different kind of trek through the first four rounds. The 12th-ranked Frenchman eased past Inigo Cervantes and Juan Monaco before saving one match point to outlast John Isner 6-7(3), 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-2, 19-17. He then got a retirement from countryman Richard Gasquet while leading 4-2 in the opening set on Monday. This is Tsonga’s first productive tournament since reaching the Monte-Carlo semifinals in April and he has not done enough to suggest he is ready to take down Murray, whose newfound status as title favorite has not seemed to add any pressure. As usual, the world No. 2’s stellar return game should be too much for Tsonga’s one-two, serve-forehand punch.
Pick: Murray in 4
[polldaddy poll=9462194]
(28) Sam Querrey vs. (6) Milos Raonic
It’s not often that Isner fails to be the last American man standing in the singles draw of a Grand Slam. But both Querrey and Steve Johnson outperformed him at SW19 and now it is Querrey who is the lone flag-bearer. Before the 28th seed famously upset Djokovic during third-round action on Saturday, his Wimbledon campaign came perilously close to not even getting off the ground. Querrey lost his first two sets of the event but roared back to beat Lukas Rosol 6-7(6), 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-2, 12-10 in round one. He then destroyed Thomaz Bellucci in the last 64, shocked Djokovic 7-6(6), 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(5), and avenged a recent ‘s-Hertogenbosch loss to Nicolas Mahut by defeating the Frenchman 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-4 on Monday.
Up next for Querrey is Raonic, whom he leads 2-1 in the head-to-head series. They also faced each other at Wimbledon four years ago, when the current world No. 41 scored a 6-7(3), 7-6(7), 7-6(8), 6-4 second-round victory. Wednesday will mark their first meeting since early in 2013 at the now-defunct San Jose tournament, where Raonic got the job done 6-4, 6-2. The seventh-ranked Canadian has also required a comeback from two sets down in order to reach the quarterfinals. Following routine victories over Pablo Carreno Busta, Andreas Seppi, and Jack Sock, Raonic edged David Goffin 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the fourth round. A former Wimbledon semifinalist (2014) who also went that far at this season’s Australian Open, Raonic has far more experience than Querrey at his stage of majors. In fact, this is the underdog’s first appearance in a slam quarterfinal and he had previously been past the third round only three times. This is likely where Querrey’s improbable run comes to an end at the hand’s of Raonic’s massive serve.
Pick: Raonic in 4
[polldaddy poll=9462137]
Berdych is quite witty! I think he has a good following on twitter. Who would have thought looking at him that he had a sense of humor!
I want Berdych to win but know nothing about Pouille. Do not care who wins in Fed-Cilic though Cilic seems likely. Raonic_Querrey? I like Querrey. He has such a funny face and Tignor’s description of this guy’s relaxed style makes him seem an unaffected and easy going chap. So I have decided to root for him. Not that my rooting would make a difference!
Oh and Muzz-Tsonga, I like both but feel certain Muzz will win!
Muzz in 5
Milosh in 5
Berd in 3!
Tsonga in 5
Querrey in 4
WOW
Yeah, Berdych has a sense of humor,good for him. I thought he’s a spoilt brat but he does seem a fair guy and his sense of humor at least balances things up a bit. I really want to see him does well and wins a slam before he retires. With more of his gen’s players winning slam(s), that will prove the Rafa’s gen is really the golden gen with two ATGs and multiple slam winners.
Murray in 5
Berdy in 4
Querrey in 4
Let the fairy tale continue….Big sam in 4!!
Fairy tale seems to be coming to an end….sad…
Everyone who predicted Raonic would win over Querrey in 4 were correct. Milos played very well in the first 2 sets. And, despite 2 big servers, no set went to a TB. Now I have my fingers crossed for Milos to win over Fed – a very tough assignment!
This Murray vs Tsonga match is entertaining, with all the gets, cat and mouse points at the net. Murray is saving Jo’s big serves like saving penalty kicks, very exciting and entertaining, esp in the TB. Jo is really a showman, not losing his temper even when losing a tight set. I see why he’s such a popular player, with that big smile on his face.
This match is less stressful to watch compared to Fed/Cilic. I bet Cilic must be living in regrets now not being able win the match in 4 sets when he had MPs.
Tsonga is hanging in there, winning the third set. On to a fourth set. I like the body language from Andy.
I though the first set was riveting.
Tsonga/Murray might have to stop for bad light if it goes to 5 sets. I hope we have a new name on the trophy this year.
Having said that, I don’t think it’s going to go to 5 sets.
Every so often Tsonga brings his brain and his brawn to a match. This is one of those matches.
Cmon Tsonga! You can do this 🙂
Who knows how this match would look like if it wasn’t for that second set that Tsonga dropped because of his anger and frustration.
Anyway, I hope Tsonga gets this one.
Or if he got that first set.
Wow didn’t realize how well Tsonga was playing here. What a bounce back from the sad exit at RG. He’s really recovered from that injury well lol. Allez Tsonga!!
Tsonga has a habit of coming back after looking disinterested in a match. Andy is not happy! When the 2nd set went to 4:0 to Andy I went and tidies up the kitchen because I thought the match was over.
I’m still giving Andy the edge even though I want a new name on the trophy on Sunday.
Murray will win in 5 sets like most of us predicted. However, he’s making life difficult for himself with all the running and retrieving. I guess that’s his style of play that he couldnt change. I give Berdych a good chance of beating this Murray as Berdych is playing very well this Wimbledon.
Andy Murray won and received a standing ovations from the crowd.
Fed Raonic Murray Berdych. Congratulations to me.
I thought Murray had it when he got the break in that fourth set.! But Tsonga raised his level of play and got into a zone. Andy seemed to get tight. But I think Andy responded very well early in the fifth set to take control and not let go. I also think tsonga’s legs were gone by then.
I thought it would be Murray in 4 sets and it should have been. The fifth set was a to-climactic. Tsonga did play brilliant tennis at times in the match to push Andy to five sets. But I thought Andy would prevail.
I think that Berdy can give Andy a real match. He’s done well here, finalist with Rafa in 2010. He’s playing well now. But I do think that Andy is mentally stronger.
It should be a good semifinal!
Ricky,
You ran the table!
Actually, I predicted those four to get through, too! But I didn’t get the number of sets right.
Congrats to Me, Ricky and nny for picking all the favourites lol.
#Skillz
?
I am really disappointed with Muzz’s performance. If he meets an inspired Fed in the final he may well meekly lose as he did in 2012. But first things first. Let us hope he gets past Berdych. Though I wouldn’t shed any tears if he did not. Berdych has long been waiting in the wings and this is his best chance. Muzz, if he gets to the final, would probably prefer Raonic to Fed.
Murray will destroy Berdych
I think Murray has a great chance to win Wimbledon. He was two games from winning in four sets, but Tsonga raised his level of play and was making some brilliant shots. Murray seemed to lose his focus a bit. But what I find most important, is how Murray regrouped early in the fifth set. That’s what you want to see from a player. He got the early break and never looked back. That is the kind of mental toughness that wins slams. I also like Murray’s body language. He’s more positive and has kept the temper tantrums in check. He was able to put the fourth set behind him and get it together.
Berdy does not have that kind of mental toughness. That’s one big reason why I think Murray will beat him and get to the final.
Exactly. Berdych doesn’t stand a chance. The crowd alone will get Andy the win. Tomas is kinda lucky he even got this far. It will be a much easier match for Andy than Tsonga imo.
Only if Querrey could have managed to get one more set, my picks would had been perfect!