Following Andy Murray’s smooth progress through the Wimbledon draw after three rounds, and the shock departures of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, one would have to seriously think about the chances the Scot has of ending one of tennis’ greatest hoodoos.
Murray’s convincing straight-sets victory over Tommy Robredo overnight leaves him on track for a possible Sunday showdown against Novak Djokovic for the title next week, as he seeks to end Great Britain’s 77-year home-grown champion drought.
And so far Murray could not have been much happier with his form, and the fact that luck has fallen his way with the early exits of Federer and Nadal, one of whom Murray would have met in the semi-finals.
Murray survived a ferocious opening service game from Robredo but eventually worked his way into the match, securing a double break to win the first set 6-2.
Much of the same was shown in the second set (6-4) as Murray took a two-set lead – but from there the match was not won yet.
He would have been aware of what Tommy Robredo had achieved at the French Open, where he became the first man in Open Era history to win three matches in a row after losing the first two sets in each match, en route to reaching the quarter-finals.
For his part, Murray has only ever lost one such match – on his Wimbledon Centre Court debut against David Nalbandian in 2005.
For most of the third set Robredo threatened to turn the match on its head, with the first ten games of the set going on serve until Murray broke to take a 6-5 lead.
From there, Murray served out the match and scored a straight sets victory to keep his title dream alive.
Given Murray’s form at the moment, it seems only a sudden change in form or injury can stop him from reaching the final.
The 26-year-old Scot is not expected to be challenged until the final, where one of Novak Djokovic, Tomas Berdych or Juan Martin del Potro could potentially await.
Out of those three, it’s very likely Djokovic will reach the championship match.
Also in Murray’s favour is the fact that he has only lost one match against every man collectively that remains in the field. That loss came against Andreas Seppi at Nottingham in 2006.
Murray defeated Djokovic in their only grass court meeting, in the semi-finals of last year’s London Olympics, en route to winning the gold medal.
In other men’s results, Grigor Dimitrov will not get a shot at Juan Martin del Potro in the third round after the 29th seed losing his suspended match against Grega Zemlja in five sets, the final set going 11-9.
Fourth seed David Ferrer remains on track to meet del Potro in the quarter-finals after he secured a four-set victory against compatriot Roberta Bautista-Agut, in a second round match held over from Thursday due to rain.
Serhiy Stakhovsky, the conqueror of Roger Federer, could not back up that victory as he went down to Austrian journeyman Jurgen Melzer in four sets.
Melzer will next meet Jerzy Janowicz, who defeated Spain’s Nicolas Almagro in straight sets.
That tie will guarantee a first time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, though Melzer did reach the semi-finals of the 2010 French Open.
Ties involving Mikhail Youzhny, Fernando Verdasco and Juan Monaco have all been suspended, those ties should be decided tonight.
On the women’s side, Angelique Kerber became the latest second-round casualty as she crashed out in three sets to former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Kaia Kanepi, in another match held over due to the rain.
The German, who reached the semi-finals at SW19 last year after crushing Kim Clijsters en route, has now not reached at least the quarter-finals of any subsequent Grand Slam tournament since.
She remains the highest-ranked woman not to have reached a final at that level.
Eighth seed and 2011 champion Petra Kvitova had her third round tie against Ekaterina Makarova suspended at one-set all, with the score in the third set being 1-2 in Makarova’s favour.
The Czech will be hoping to capitalise on a wide open draw and reach her second Wimbledon final, two years after famously defeating Maria Sharapova to win her first title.
The 23-year-old has not gone past the third round of any Grand Slam tournament so far this year.
2007 finalist Marion Bartoli went through to the fourth round by virtue of a straight sets victory over Italy’s Camila Giorgi and will next play Karin Knapp, who defeated Maria Sharapova’s conqueror, Michelle Larcher de Brito, in straight sets.
The Frenchwoman will fancy her chances of reaching the quarter-finals at SW19 for a third time, and may want to write a ‘thank you” card to Larcher de Brito if she can get that far.
Bartoli and Kvitova are due to meet in the semi-finals, with a second-time Wimbledon finalist guaranteed if that match eventuates.
Sloane Stephens, who famously defeated Serena Williams en route to reaching the semi-finals of the 2013 Australian Open, had her tie against Petra Cetkovska, the second round conqueror of Caroline Wozniacki, suspended at one set all.
The Czech, who defeated Agnieszka Radwanska and Ana Ivanovic en route to a fourth round showing in 2011, served Stephens a bagel after losing the first set in a tiebreak.
And finally, Laura Robson will fancy her chances of a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final after she defeated Mariana Duque-Marino in another second round tie held over from Thursday.
Australian-born Robson should not be threatened until at least the quarter-finals, where Serena Williams would potentially await. Her potential fourth round opponent, Angelique Kerber, crashed out in the aforementioned tie to Kaia Kanepi.
Williams is among a few big names that will be in action tonight, Australian time.
Others to feature include Novak Djokovic, as well as Australian pair Bernard Tomic and Samantha Stosur, while Petra Kvitova will try to complete her suspended tie against Ekaterina Makarova.
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