The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsAndy Murray has reached the fourth round at Wimbledon after the Brit defeated John Millman 6-3 7-5 6-2. In the opening two sets, Murray was not at his best as at times his opponent matched him and battled hard, but the world number two did enough to win both sets before cruising through the third to eventually earn a straight sets win.
In the first set, Murray began with attacking intent and seized an early break when his opponent netted a backhand, before comfortably building a 3-0 lead. Even though Millman capitalised on an error strewn game from Murray to retrieve the break back, the Brit immediately responded to regain the break advantage after punishing the Australian for an indecisive overhead smash. The world number two’s deep and powerful groundstrokes ensured Millman was continuously pinned back behind the baseline, as this time Murray held for a 5-2 lead. Millman was forced to save a set point en route to making his opponent serve for the set, but the Brit confidently closed it out with a delicate volley.
As the second set unfolded, play was suspended in the first game due to rain and when the match resumed after the Centre Court roof was closed, both players held their first few service games. But, at 3-3, Murray raised his level and produced consecutive blistering backhand returns to forge ahead with the break. The Brit maintained his impressive serving to stretch his lead to 5-3 and held set points on his opponent’s serve, but the Australian dug in and forced Murray to serve for the set. However, the world number two failed to do so and conceded the break back with a series of erratic shots, as Millman was beginning to stay with his opponent in the rallies. At 5-5, a marathon game ensued as the Australian needed to produce some exceptional shot-making to save break points and resist the unrelenting pressure from Murray, but finally the Brit converted on one opportunity after outlasting his opponent in a rally, to regain the advantage again. Murray had been pushed by Millman but this time he managed to successfully serve out the set at the second time of asking, clinching it with a deep forehand that his opponent couldn’t handle.
In the third set, Murray looked to build on his momentum and his heavy yet precise groundstrokes were too strong for Millman, who conceded the break in the first game with a backhand error. The Brit quickly held and then continued his assault, using his incredible repertoire of shots to wear his opponent down as an incredible lob set up further break points. The Australian was unable to respond and Murray gained the double break with a brilliant forehand winner on the run en route to establishing a commanding 4-0 lead. The world number two remained solid on serve as he had thoroughly outclassed his opponent and even though Millman held the rest of his service games, Murray comfortably wrapped up the match with an ace to progress into the fourth round.
In the next round, Murray faces a tricky opponent in Nick Kyrgios, as the Australian saw off Feliciano Lopez in four sets.
Meanwhile, Roger Federer ended the run of Dan Evans with a routine 6-4 6-2 6-2 victory, as there were straight set wins for Kei Nishikori, Marin Cilic and Milos Raonic. Also, Steve Johnson eliminated former SW19 semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov in four sets, whilst Jo Wilfried Tsonga fought back from two sets down and saved a match point to complete a dramatic 6-7 3-6 7-6 6-2 19-17 win over John Isner.
However, the biggest upset in the men’s singles draw came when Sam Querry shocked defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 6-1 3-6 7-6, ending the world number one’s hopes of achieving the Calendar Slam. The combination of the American’s massive serve and forehand as well as Djokovic’s overall uncharacteristically inconsistent form, especially in the second set, saw Querry establish a two set lead before play was suspended due to bad light and rain. However, despite further rain delays when the match resumed on the following day, Djokovic took the third set and had the opportunity to extend the match to a decider when he served for the fourth, but Querry fought back to force a tie-break, which he eventually won to seal the upset.
On the women’s side, Serena Williams cruised past Annika Beck 6-3 6-0 and will face Svetlana Kuznetsova next, whilst Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber and Agnieszka Radwanska all moved through to the fourth round. Also, Ekaterina Makarova followed up her stunning win over the former Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova with a 6-4 6-2 win over Barbora Strycova, and Dominika Cibulkova dispatched Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets.
