Andy Murray beaten in Wimbledon quarter-final
Written by News on 13/07/2017
Andy Murray has been knocked out of Wimbledon at the quarter-final stage after he was beaten in five sets by Sam Querrey.
The 30-year-old world number one had led by two sets to one, but was clearly suffering from an injury in the fourth set as his American opponent levelled the match.
Querrey, the 24th seed, broke early in the fifth set and there was no way back for the defending champion who went on to lose 3-6 6-4 6-7 6-1 6-1.
Murray had been struggling with a hip injury before the Wimbledon championships, and had to cancel two exhibition matches as he tried to recover from the problem.
He downplayed the injury after declaring himself fit for the tournament, but was visibly limping in his quarter-final and struggled to stay in the match in the final two sets.
Speaking after the match, he said: "The whole tournament I’ve been a little bit sore. But I tried my best right to the end, gave everything I had. I’m proud of that.
"But it’s obviously disappointing to lose at Wimbledon. There’s obviously an opportunity there, so I’m sad that it’s over."
He added that he was not "a million miles away from winning the match".
The defeat is Murray’s worst at Wimbledon in terms of his opponent’s ranking. He had previously never lost to a player ranked lower than the then world number 19 David Nalbandian, at his debut at the tournament in 2005.
Querrey is the first American man to reach the semi-finals at a major tournament since Andy Roddick was Wimbledon runner-up in 2009. He will next face either Gilles Muller or Marin Cilic on Friday in his first Grand Slam semi.
After the match, he said: "I didn’t start the best but I just kept swinging away and found my groove in the last two sets.
"It feels great. It’s a dream come true to be in the semi-final at Wimbledon, it’s very special."
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic also exited the championships after he retired through injury during his quarter final match against Thomas Berdych.
Home nation hopes will now rest with Johanna Konta, who on Tuesday became the first British woman to make the semi-finals at Wimbledon since Virginia Wade in 1978.
Murray backed his fellow British tennis player to win, saying she played "extremely well under a lot of pressure".
He said: "You know, I hope she goes on to win the tournament. She’s certainly got a fantastic chance."
(c) Sky News 2017: Andy Murray beaten in Wimbledon quarter-final
