Andy Murray’s quarter-final opponent will be Sam Querrey, the 24th-seeded American who stunned Novak Djokovic last year. Querrey won 5-7, 7-6, 6-3, 6-7 (11), 6-3 against Kevin Anderson, who saved four match points in the tie-break. Murray beat Querrey easily at the Australian Open earlier this year, but playing the big server should be a big test of his fitness - and a different one after matches against four mavericks. That’s all from me here, though. Thanks for reading. Bye!
Andy Murray speaks. “I thought I played well today. Maybe a couple of sloppy service games in the first set. He’s not an easy guy to play. He’s got one of the best backhands. Tactics aren’t easy against him. Two weeks ago I was resting, so I was little bit concerned. When you’re having issues a few days before a big event it’s a bit worrying. I managed it well, I’m playing some good stuff. I’m doing well.”
Andy Murray beats Benoit Paire 7-6, 6-4, 6-4!
Serving for the match, Murray begins as he means to go on, smacking an ace down the middle for 15-0. Then he tries to serve and volley, only to dump a volley into the net for 15-all. A lengthy rally ensues. Paire inevitably nets a forehand for 30-15 and Murray earns two match points with a backhand winner down the line. It doesn’t take much for Paire to knock a forehand long. Murray’s into his 10th consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final, but he’s had to work very hard to get here.
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Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-4, 5-4 Paire* (*denotes server): At 0-15, Murray thinks he’s found the spot with a backhand pass. Alas, it’s wide and he only has one challenge remaining. Paire should be home and hosed after an ace makes it 40-15. But a double-fault makes it deuce. Soon Murray has a break point - and Paire nets a forehand! Murray will serve for the match.
Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-4, 4-4 Paire (*denotes server): The game goes to 30-all after an errant Murray forehand. There’s danger here. The game goes to deuce after Murray nets a backhand and Paire earns a break point when Murray nets a backhand slice. Murray wakes up and saves it with a barrelling forehand for deuce. Eventually Murray holds, because Paire misses.
Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-4, 3-4 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire holds to easily. He’s surprised with me how much he’s fought since the first set.
Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-4, 3-3 Paire (*denotes server): Sam Querrey had four match points over on Court 18, but Kevin Anderson forced a fifth set. Murray will be pleased. He plays the winner - assuming he gets over the line here. He holds to love in this game.
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Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-4, 2-3 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire serves quite brilliantly to save three straight break points. Murray can’t believe this guy won’t quit. He earns another break point, hitting his forehand well and smashing, but Paire denies him again and eventually holds with a backhand down the line.
Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-4, 2-2 Paire (*denotes server): Paire makes three forehand errors. Murray accepts the donations and holds to love.
Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-4, 1-2 Paire* (*denotes server): The game starts on a strange challenge, the umpire refusing Murray a challenge on a serve despite seeming to acknowledge it at first. How odd. Murray’s furious. Paire holds to 15 and Murray engages in debate with the umpire. “You said challenge because you heard me say challenge. No, no, no.”
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Third set: Murray* 7-6, 6-4, 1-1 Paire (*denotes server): Murray’s two sets up, but I don’t think he deserves to be. It’s largely to do with Paire’s unreliability. This isn’t Murray at his best. He doesn’t look physically comfortable. His side-to-side movement doesn’t convince. He holds to love here, though.
Third set: Murray 7-6, 6-4, 0-1 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire begins the set with a hold to love.
Andy Murray wins the second set to lead 7-6, 6-4!
Serving for the second set, Murray’s down 0-15 after fine volleying from Paire, who makes it 0-30 with a backhand pass, Murray a sitting duck at the net. Soon Paire has two break points after wrongfooting Murray with a forehand. There’s not much on Murray’s serve here and his movement’s unconvincing. But he saves both break points. Paire misses a forehand, Murray nails a smash for deuce. Then Murray makes another error. “Fdkdnkdn,” he says, or something to that effect. He saves the break point fantastically, whipping a forehand down the line, but he’s facing another after pulling a forehand long. But Paire’s kicking himself after stopping a rally mid-point, thinking a backhand’s long. Hawkeye shows it was on the line and Murray finally earns a set point when Paire nets a backhand. It doesn’t take long for Paire to send a backhand long. Somehow Murray leads by two sets. But ... hmmm.
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Second set: Murray 7-6, 5-4 Paire* (*denotes server): Murray ups his aggression at a good time, ramming a backhand from left to right for 0-30. Then he scampers on to a drop volley, which seems like it will be enough, and scoops a backhand cross-court, Paire unable to work his racket around the ball, and Murray has three break points. Murray hangs in there on the next point. Paire should win it when Murray blocks a ball invitingly into the air. Instead he punches a volley wide. Oh dear. Murray will serve for a two-set lead. Paire is feeling his knee. He’ll see the trainer soon, I expect.
Second set: Murray* 7-6, 4-4 Paire (*denotes server): Murray’s under threat when an accomplished volley from Paire makes it 0-15. Paire does him a few favours, however, and Murray holds to 15.
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Second set: Murray 7-6, 3-4 Paire* (*denotes server): It’s Paire’s turn to chunter at himself after a poor forehand makes it 0-15. “I can’t do anything with my forehand,” he says in French. Then he’s not happy when he’s refused a challenge of a Murray forehand, the umpire deciding he’d played the shot and then called for Hawkeye. He’s even less amused when an errant shot makes it 15-40. Murray’s furious with himself after netting a backhand return off a second serve, though, and even more irritated when Paire saves the second break point with a volley. This is all very tetchy. Calm down, lads, it’s just a game. I wouldn’t say that to Murray’s face after Paire holds, though.
Second set: Murray* 7-6, 3-3 Paire (*denotes server): Murray quickly finds himself down 0-30. His level’s dipped. Indecisiveness has seeped back into his game. A wretched forehand, wide and long, makes it 15-40. Murray decides to hit himself as punishment. Not that it achieves anything. He slices and approaches the net. Paire passes him with a forehand. That was no good at all.
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Second set: Murray 7-6, 3-2 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire might yet pay for that wretched opening service game in this set, but he has at least started to compete again. A hold to love keeps Murray honest.
Second set: Murray* 7-6, 3-1 Paire (*denotes server): The winner of this match will play the winner of the duel taking place on Court 18 at the moment. Sam Querrey, the 24th seed, leads 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 against his fellow big server, Kevin Anderson. I’m surprised to see just the one tie-break. Back on Centre, Paire’s waking up again, hitting his backhand well to lead 15-30 here. Murray is determined not to offer any encouragement. He spins a drop shot away for 30-all; anything you can do, Benoit. Then an ace makes it 40-30. He polishes it off with a rasping forehand winner.
Second set: Murray 7-6, 2-1 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire makes himself feel a bit better when a slice clips the net and turns into a drop shot winner for 30-0. He apologises but secretly he’s delighted at the drop shot, so naturally he attempts one on the next point and sends it wide for 30-15. The game goes to deuce after Paire’s Becker-esque diving goes long, but the Frenchman gets on the scoreboard in set two with a couple of aces.
Second set: Murray* 7-6, 2-0 Paire (*denotes server): Murray consolidates the break, easily holding to 15. There’s a sense of sleepy satisfaction on Centre Court now, as though everyone’s relaxing and sitting back after a mighty fine lunch.
Second set: Murray 7-6, 1-0 Paire* (*denotes server): It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if Paire capitulates in this set. He’ll be furious not to be a set up after producing so much absurd magic, only to fold in the tie-break. And he’s it’s not long before he’s facing three break points. Murray doesn’t have to do much other than wait for an unfocused Paire to pull a forehand wide.
Andy Murray wins the first set 7-6!
First set tie-break: Murray* 7-1 Paire (*denotes server): Paire knocks a forehand long at the end of an even rally. What a strange set.
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First set tie-break: Murray 6-1 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire saves the first with a big backhand down the line.
First set tie-break: Murray 6-0 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire nets a forehand. Six set points for Murray. This is one of the worst tie-break efforts I’ve ever seen.
First set tie-break: Murray* 5-0 Paire (*denotes server): Paire sends a backhand return long.
First set tie-break: Murray* 4-0 Paire (*denotes server): Paire sends a backhand long.
First set tie-break: Murray 3-0 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire wallops a backhand well wide. He had so much time. He drops his racket in frustration.
First set tie-break: Murray 2-0 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire double-faults for the sixth time, then lets out an anguished cry.
First set tie-break: Murray* 1-0 Paire (*denotes server): Murray wrongfoots Paire with a forehand after a good serve.
First set: Murray 6-6 Paire* (*denotes server): Serving to stay in the set for a second time, Paire begins with a double-fault, challenging without success. Down 0-15, he tries a drop shot, because he’s Paire. Murray flicks a forehand past him, Paire diving and flinging his racket after the ball. Down 0-30, Paire goes for a drop volley. Murray knocks a backhand wide. So Paire does another drop volley. Murray’s on to it now. He spears a forehand down the line for two set points. Paire saves the first with a backhand into the right corner, though, then spins a backhand drop shot over the net, Murray unable to quite do enough with a forehand. Paire holds. Tie-break.
First set: Murray* 6-5 Paire (*denotes server): Murray rattles through easy points to lead 40-0. “Another one of those please!” trills a comedian in the stands to delighted laughs. Murray obliges to hold, earning himself a tie-break at the very least, and possibly so much more.
First set: Murray 5-5 Paire* (*denotes server): After all his early dominance, Paire’s serving to stay in the first set. He aces to make it 40-15. Two forehand errors take the game to deuce, but Murray’s not quite got a read on Paire’s serve yet. Paire swings an ace down the middle to hold.
First set: Murray* 5-4 Paire (*denotes server): The crowd senses that Murray needs a bit more support, so naturally Paire’s errors are being applauded more vigorously now. Murray holds to 15 with a huge ace down the middle.
First set: Murray 4-4 Paire* (*denotes server): The game goes to 15-all after Paire’s one millionth drop shot of the match lands him in trouble. Then he double-faults. He sure trusts in his material, even though a drop shot hits the net and takes the game to deuce. Murray’s alert to the possibilities here, earning a break point when he works Paire’s forehand and draws the error. Murray can’t take it, netting a forehand, but he has another when Paire butchers a forehand volley, almost sending it into the Royal Box. The errors are arriving now. Paire nets a forehand and they’re back on level terms. This is a bizarre match.
First set: Murray* 3-4 Paire (*denotes server): Murray finally seems to have some comfort on serve, powering to 30-0, then 40-15. Paire makes it 40-30 with a lovely backhand return, though, and it’s deuce after Murray nets a forehand. Eventually Murray holds. He’ll feel a bit better, but he’s still not entirely comfortable.
First set: Murray 2-4 Paire* (*denotes server): The mood is muted on Centre Court. Paire holds to 14 to consolidate the break this time.
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First set: Murray* 2-3 Paire (*denotes server): “Legs! Legs! Backwards movement!” cries Murray after two tame shots into the net make it 0-30. Given encouragement by Murray’s low level here, Paire reaches into his box of tricks at the net again and earns three break points. Murray saves the first two with big serves. Paire loops a clever forehand down the line, though, and a very stiff Murray’s ranting after being broken again.
First set: Murray 2-2 Paire* (*denotes server): Looking to consolidate the break, Paire drop shots. Murray gets there. Paire lobs him. Murray peels back and sees his forehand drop wide after clipping the tape. Pleased with himself, Paire goes for another drop shot. Murray’s on to his game. A forehand makes it 15-all. Paire is in drop shot mode. This is ludicrous. Another one barely makes the net. 15-30. Another one sits up for Murray, who rams a forehand away for 15-40. Paire saves the first. Then he nets a backhand and Murray breaks back.
First set: Murray* 1-2 Paire (*denotes server): Murray drops his first point on serve, pulling a forehand wide. He’s tested in the next rally when a Paire shot clips the tape. He has the presence of mind to drop shot, however, and win the point with a volley. But Paire’s an inventive shotmaker, especially with his backhand, and he drills one down the line for 15-30. He’s come to play! He always comes to play. The challenge is sustaining it. But he’s obviously dangerous early on and he earns two break points, meeting a shoddy Murray drop shot with a forehand down the line. Murray saves the first when Paire nets a forehand. Not the second, though. Murray, looking not so sprightly, can’t do anything about a wonderful little drop volley. This has all gone PAIRE SHAPED.
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First set: Murray 1-1 Paire* (*denotes server): Paire begins with a double-fault. He wins his first point with an ace; that’s the kind of eccentric challenge Murray faces here. Another one makes it 30-15, but he skews a forehand long for 30-all and then Murray defends magnificently to earn a break point, Paire unable to deal with a low ball down by his feet at the net. The next point lasts a while. Murray leaves a ball short and Paire swipes a forehand away to force deuce. It’s turning into a long game. But it ends when Murray wafts a dismal slice long. He seemed to be about to hit a drop shot, only to change his mind at the last second. He looked disgusted with himself.
First set: Murray* 1-0 Paire (*denotes server): A huge cheer from the Centre Court crowd as the players take their positions. It’s Andy Murray to serve first. He wins the first point and then Paire sends a backhand long. The Frenchman decides to waste a challenge for no good reason. It was clearly out. Murray makes it 40-0 with his first ace. His second sees him hold to love.
“He has a very bushy beard,” says Boris Becker of Benoit Paire. “I don’t know if that is superstition.”
Murray has only met Paire once before. That was in Monte Carlo last year. He trailed by a set and a break. He won.
Hello. The good news is that Andy Murray’s on a 25-match winning streak against French players. The bad news is he’s got a sore hip. Luckily he’s managed to spend the weekend resting up before taking on Benoit Paire, the world No46. Having survived a fantastically unorthodox challenge from Fabio Fognini on Friday night, Murray will be confident of dealing with a slightly inferior version this afternoon. That said, you can’t take anything for granted with the world No1 this year.
Play begins soon.
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