Powerful American Sam Querrey will be hard pressed to continue his stunning run of form at Wimbledon when he takes on Marin Cilic in the first semi-final. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10pm (AEST).
This is a match-up no one saw coming. Querrey, ranked 24th in the world has had to pull off some monumental victories to make it this far. It’s his first grand slam semi-final appearance, and the big-serving American is in form that suggests he could continue it.
The biggest problem standing in the way of Querrey is the amount of time he has spent on court so far in the tournament. All of his last three matches have gone to five sets, but in saying that, his form has been outstanding.
After relatively easy wins against Thomas Fabbiano and Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first two rounds, he has beaten Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Kevin Anderson and the world No.1 Andy Murray.
The win against Tsonga was particularly impressive, taking the final set 7-5, before his quarter-final against Murray finished in a 6-1 boilover.
Querrey has been firing on serve, and that’s going to need to be pin-point accurate against Cilic.
Like the American, Cilic has been on fire at Wimbledon, his big serve paving the way to a semi-final appearance. While Cilic won the U.S. Open in 2015, he has never made it past the quarter-finals in London, being bounced out for each of the last three years.
Cilic takes a fatigue advantage into this match after winning all of his first four matches in striaght sets. They came against Philipp Kohlschreiber, Florian Mayer, Steve Johnson and Roberto Bautista Agut, before he defeated Gilles Muller in a five-set epic.
The fifth set was taken 6-1 though, and goes to show the level of experience has, and will continue to help Cilic through the later stages of The Championships.
He served a staggering 33 aces in that match against Muller, and will need to do similar here. It was also impressive to see him landing 65 per cent of first serves.
The pair have met on six previous occasions with four of them on grass. Cilic holds a 5-1 advantage, including all four on grass. Their last meeting at Wimbledon came in 2012, when Cilic edged out Querrey in a five-set epic, the final score reading 7-6, 6-4, 6-7, 6-7, 17-15.
For the winner, a meeting against either Roger Federer or Tomas Berdych in the final on Sunday awaits.
Prediction
Cilic holds all the cards coming into this match, but we could be in for an epic. Querrey will fight and attempt to pull off another famous upset, but it won’t happen this time.
Cilic in five explosive sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of this first semi-final at Wimbledon from 10pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment below.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Well, that'll do it for our coverage of this semi-final. A great performance from Cilic and he is through to his first Wimbledon final. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. We are moving straight onto our second semi-final now, with Roger Federer taking on Tomas Berdych. Join me there. Bye for now.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
I haven't covered it and it's a fair question, but the umpire is ruling him to be inside of the time limit, so there's very little anyone can do about it.
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH MARIN CILIC! Marin Cilic is through to his first Wimbledon final. Returns serve well once again and then sends a forehand up the line. What a victory from Cilic. He was the better player there, but Querrey went off the boil at some key moments and after two hours and 56 minutes, he is out of Wimbledon. Sam Querrey 7 4 6 5 Marin Cilic 6 6 7 7
Maggie
Guest
I'm watching TdF and just flicking over to Wimbledon from time-to-time. You may have covered this - but why on earth is Cilic allowed to do so many ball bounces before every serve? Infuriating to watch. And I would have thought very disconcerting for the receiver (in this case Querry).
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cilic has the court open here, but puts a backhand into the net going down the line. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 30 Cilic 6 6 7 6 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Querrey playing from the baseline, but this is expert play from Cilic. Lovely work on the return of serve, then a couple of backhands before Querrey sends another long. Two match points. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 15 Cilic 6 6 7 6 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Querrey struggling with the pressure of trying to stay in it now. Hit a wild forehand there, aiming for the corner but sent it long. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 15 Cilic 6 6 7 6 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Querrey with an unreturnable first serve this time. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 15 Cilic 6 6 7 6 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Querrey with a bad start on serve. Double fault. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 0 Cilic 6 6 7 6 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Cilic, before Querrey returns to the corner with a backhand. Cilic more than ready for it though and he hits a backhand up the line. Again, Querrey will be serving to keep the match alive, and this time send it to a tie-breaker. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - Cilic 6 6 7 6 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! That one slid away on a short angle. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 0 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 0 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cilic with a fault. The second is down the T and returned long by Querrey. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - 0 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Another fault, but then a wide kick serve and Querrey will live to see another day. Cilic puts a forehand into the net on the return. Querrey 7 4 6 5 - Cilic 6 6 7 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fault from Querrey before Cilic returns a backhand long. Querrey 7 4 6 4 - 40 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Longer rally, but Querrey hits some nice heavy forehands after defending, with Cilic putting a ball into the net. Querrey 7 4 6 4 - 30 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Querrey looked a little lazy with the footwork there. Stood on the baseline and put a backhand into the net. Querrey 7 4 6 4 - 15 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Querrey starts this must hold game with one down the T. Querrey 7 4 6 4 - 15 Cilic 6 6 7 5 - 0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Cilic holds serve! He goes wide and Querrey's reaching backhand return isn't controlled, swinging wide of the corner. Querrey now must hold serve or the match is over. Querrey 7 4 6 4 - Cilic 6 6 7 5 -