Murray’s record at Wimbledon:
2005: (world ranking 312, wild card)
– R1 vs George Bastl (qualifier) 6-4 6-2 6-2
– R2 vs Radek Stepanek (14th seed) 6-4 6-4 6-4
– R3 vs David Nalbandian (n°18) 7-6 6-1 0-6 4-6 1-6
2006: (world ranking 44)
– R1 vs Nicolas Massu (n°31) 6-1 6-4 6-4
– R2 vs Julien Benneteau 7-6 6-4 4-6 6-1
– R3 vs Andy Roddick (n°3) 7-6 6-4 6-4
– R4 vs Marcos Baghdatis (n°18) 3-6 4-6 6-7
2007: missed due to wrist injury
2008: (world ranking 11)
– R1 Fabrice Santoro 6-3 6-4 7-6
– R2 Xavier Malisse (WC) 6-4 6-2 6-2
– R3 Tommy Haas 6-4 6-7 6-3 6-2
– R4 Richard Gasquet (n°8) 5-7 3-6 7-6 6-2 6-4
– QF Rafael Nadal (n°2) 3-6 2-6 4-6
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Murray’s chances were greatly enhanced by the withdrawal of defending champion and world number one Rafael Nadal. That left Murray as the top ranked player in his half of the draw.
First round: Andy Murray vs Robert Kendrick (76)
Head to head: Murray 3-0
Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score in final |
2006 | Newport | Grass | Murray | 6-0, 6-0 |
2006 | US Open | Hard | Murray | 6-2, 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 |
2007 | Miami | Hard | Murray | 6–3, 6–1 |
On Tuesday 23th June, at 5.09 pm, Andy Murray opened his 2009 campaign against Robert Kendrick. All British hopes rely on Murray, who could be the first Brit to win the Championships since Fred Perry in 1936.
His first round opponent, Robert Kendrick, is a journeyman player, ranked 76 and whose ATP singles record is 15-28.
He has only won 3 Grand Slam matches during his career, but the last time he played on Centre Court, in 2006, he lead Rafael Nadal by 2 sets to 0, before falling in 5 sets.
And the match was indeed more difficult than expected, as Murray lost the second set tie-break. It was an entertaining match with big server Kendrick coming to the net as often as possible. But Murray remained solid and focused and won in 4 sets: 7-5 6-7 6-3 6-4.
About his next opponent, Ernests Gulbis: “I’ve got a very tough opponent. Gulbis has caused some upsets in the past and is a huge hitter of the ball. I’m going to need to be on my game to beat him.”
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Murray’s tweet: letter from the Queen
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Second round: Andy Murray vs Ernests Gulbis (74)
Head to head: 2-0
Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score in final |
2008 | Queen’s | Grass | Murray | 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 |
2008 | St. Petersburg | Hard | Murray | 6-4, 6-2 |
It only took 1hour and 28 minutes for Andy Murray to destroy the talented but lackluster Latvian, who was a surprise quarter finalist at Roland Garros in 2008. The Scot looked like a boss from first point of the match and played a near perfect match, hitting 36 winners for only 5 unforced errors.
Murray: “I thought I played well. It was much better than the first match. There weren’t that many moments in the match when I was under a lot of pressure. There wasn’t that much nerves and huge points”.
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Murray’s tweet: snack game
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Third round: Andy Murray vs Viktor Troicki (30)
Head to head: 2-0
Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score in final |
2008 | St. Petersburg | Hard | Murray | 6-3, 6-3 |
2009 | Miami | Hard | Murray | 6-1, 6-0 |
Andy’s third round opponent is big hitter Viktor Troicki who is …allergic to grass: “I’m allergic to grass courts, not just at Wimbledon but at other tournaments as well, there’s something in the air that bothers me.”
Apparently he is allergic to Murray’s game too: the last time they met at Miami, Murray destroyed him 6-1 6-0. He played again a near perfect match and advanced to fourth round with an easy 6-2 6-3 6-4 win.
Interesting stat fact for Murray: everytime he beat Troicki in a tournament, he won it.
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Fourth round: Andy Murray vs Stanislas Wawrinka (18)
Head to head: 4-3
Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score in final |
2005 | Davis Cup | Clay | Wawrinka | 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-4 |
2006 | Miami | Hard | Wawrinka | 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 |
2008 | Doha | Hard | Murray | 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 |
2008 | Marseille | Hard | Murray | 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-1 |
2008 | Rome | Clay | Wawrinka | 6-2, 7-6(5) |
2008 | Toronto | Hard | Murray | 6-2, 0-6, 6-4 |
2008 | US Open | Hard | Murray | 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 |
It was an epic battle for Murray and an historic day for Wimbledon: the day that night play came to Wimbledon. Murray’s fourth round match was played under the new roof (at last!) after a rain shower. Nearly 13 million Brits tuned in to watch Andy Murray’s five set thriller against Stanislas Wawrinka. And thousand of fans were glued in front of the big screen on Henman Hill.
Wawrinka is a talented but inconsistent former top 10, whose best performances were a win against Roger Federer in Monte Carlo, and an Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008 with the same Federer. No one expected the 18th seed to play at such a high level.
In fact, Murray had to play at an incredible level just to survive in the match. He finally prevailed 2-6 6-3 6-3 5-7 6-3 after three hours and 56minutes.
And all Andy had to say, was he was not happy with the roof.
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Murray’s tweet: pizza anyone?
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Quarter final: Andy Murray vs Juan Carlos Ferrero (WC)
Head to head: 1-0
Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score in final |
2009 | Queen’s | Grass | Murray | 6-2, 6-4 |
The last wild card to reach the Wimbledon quarter finals was Goran Ivanisevic in 2001, who won the title after an epic 5 five sets thriller against Pat Rafter. But the 2003 French Open champion is not of the same caliber on grass as the big server from Split, and Andy Murray stormed into the Wimbledon semi final for the first time of his career after a victory over Ferrero.
Murray: “A semi-final is something I’ve not experienced here before but at the US Open last year I played a semi-final against the number one in the world (Rafael Nadal). I’m going to have a tough match but I feel like I can win if I play well.”
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Murray’s tweet: Beckham
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Semi final: Andy Murray vs Andy Roddick
Head to head: 6-2
Year | Tournament | Surface | Winner | Score in final |
2006 | San Jose | Hard | Murray | 7-5, 7-5 |
2006 | Cincinnati | Hard | Roddick | 6-3, 6-4 |
2007 | San Jose | Hard | Murray | 7-6(8), 6-4 |
2007 | Memphis | Hard | Roddick | 6-3, 7-6(4) |
2007 | Miami | Hard | Murray | 5-3 RET |
2007 | Miami | Hard | Murray | 5-3 RET |
2008 | Queen’s | Grass | Roddick | W/O |
2008 | Masters | Hard | Murray | 6-4, 1-6, 6-1 | 2009 | Doha | Hard | Murray | 6-4, 6-2 |
Roddick had lost six of eight encounters with Murray, including the last three. But Roddick was in the form of his life: thanks to his work with new coach Larry Stefanki, he had never been in better physical shape. Fitter, faster, his game has changed , and he’s not only a big serve and an explosive forehand anymore. Murray has grown stronger and matured mentally as well. But Murray was once again way too passive, and the risks Roddick took payed off.
Like during his match against Wawrinka, Murray just tried to survive. The full packed Centre Court and Henman Hill never seemed to believe in Murray’s victory, neither did he. Roddick dashed Murray’s hopes with a 6-4 4-6 7-6 7-5 win after an impressive attacking game display.
Britain will have to wait at least another year to see a home winner triumph.
Andy Roddick: “Andy Murray has a great game and he will do great things in the future but today was my time, and I was determined to take my chance.”
Andy Murray: “I thought I played well, the statistics look good, but Andy put in a gret performance and there is no argument with that. I just wish I could have done better.”
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Murray’s tweet: thanks
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What will be Murray's performance at this year's Wimbledon?
- SF (40%, 2 Votes)
- QF (40%, 2 Votes)
- R3 (20%, 1 Votes)
- Winner (0%, 0 Votes)
- Runner-up (0%, 0 Votes)
- R4 (0%, 0 Votes)
- R2 (0%, 0 Votes)
- R1 (0%, 0 Votes)
Total Voters: 5
