That’s all for now. Thanks as always for following along with us and do check back later for Kevin Mitchell’s full match report.
Cilic makes the Wimbledon final for the first time in his 11th attempt. #Persistence. That’s a record for the Open era. The 6ft 6in Croat is also the tallest finalist at the All England Club since the majors allowed professionals to compete with amateurs in 1968.
By reaching the final on his 11th appearance @cilic_marin is top of the Open Era list for most attempts before reaching the #Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/EKOVbvQwfl
— ITF (@ITF_Tennis) July 14, 2017
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Marin Cilic is through to his second major final and first at Wimbledon after a 6-7 (6), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-5 win over Sam Querrey. He will face the winner of today’s second semi-final between Roger Federer and Tomas Berdych. Good on Cilic to keep his cool in a closely fought match against a cool, confident opponent. The difference came on their second serves, where Querrey won less than half of the points (26 of 54) compared to two-thirds for Cilic (28 of 42).
Cilic breaks in 12th game of fourth set and wins the match!
Fourth set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 5-7 Cilic
Querrey double-faults, only his third of the day. Not ideal. He wins the next point but then sends a cross-court forehand long and wide, challenging it unsuccessfully. Cilic two points from the final at 15-30. Then Querrey sends another backhand sailing past the baseline and Cilic has a pair of match points. He squanders the first by dumping a backhand into the net, but then crushes a forehand winner down the baseline for the break and the match!
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Fourth set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 5-6 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another love hold for Querrey, including his 24th and 25th aces followed by a backhand winner. He’s a perfect 17-for-17 on first-serve points won this set. Do-or-die service game ahead for Querrey to try and force a fourth-set tiebreaker.
Fourth set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 5-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey opens with an ace but makes an unforced error on the backhand side for 15-all and now Cilic is three points from the final. But Querrey steadies himself and wins the next three points to hold for five-all.
Fourth set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 4-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic falls behind love-15 when Querrey hits a backhand volley winner. The umpire asks the crowd to turn off the cell phone. Pretty embarrssing moment for someone. Hope it wasn’t Barry Gibb. Now Cilic rattles off three quick points to fight back to 40-15. An unforced error by Cilic makes it 40-30, but Querrey can’t return another blistering Cilic serve into the court and the Croat holds. Querrey will now serve to stay in the tournament.
Cilic breaks in eighth game of fourth set!
Fourth set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 4-4 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey wins the first two points and it looks like just another routine service games, but Cilic responds with a pair of clean winners for 30-all then a drop-shot winner for 30-40. All of a sudden, Cilic has a chance for a break point to get back on serve in the fourth. And he capitalizes! Cilic pounces on a 79mph second serve and forces Querrey into an error on the backhand side. Querrey’s vulnerability on the second serve laid bare there: he’s 23 of 49 (47%) and just two for nine in this set.
Fourth set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 4-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another love hold for Cilic punctuated by an ace. Both times Cilic’s been broken today, he’s responded with eight straight points across his next two service games.
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Fourth set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 4-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey races out to 40-love, but dumps a volley into the net followed by a double fault, only his second of the day. But before it can get uncomfortable, the American calmly uncorks an ace to hold serve.
Fourth set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 3-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic fires in his 20th and 21st aces, then sees Querrey make an unforced error on the backhand side for 40-love. A forehand winner then gives the Croat yet another love hold, but he’s still down a break in the fourth.
Fourth set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 3-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Uh-oh. Querrey in danger of giving it right back as he falls behind 15-40 on a botch overhand smash. But he saves the first with a forehand winner, then the second when Cilic makes an unforced error on the forehand side for deuce. Querrey than crushes an ace and forces Cilic into a forehand error to escape with the hold from double break point down. Wow!
Querrey breaks in third game of fourth set!
Fourth set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 2-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Querrey hasn’t even come within touching distance of a break very often today, but he’s forced Cilic into an error for 30-all. He then jumps on a second serve and forces Cilic into another error on the forehand side for 30-40. One break-point chance and he makes the most of it, forcing Cilic into another error for the precious service break!
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Fourth set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 1-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Cilic gets it to 30-all on Querrey’s serve, but the American responds with his ninth and 10th aces of the day for the hold.
Fourth set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7, 0-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Quick love hold for Cilic, who is just dialed in on his serve.
Cilic wins third set, 7-6 (3)!
Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-7 Cilic
Querrey wins a point on his serve to start and Cilic follows by winning both on his. Two more for Querrey on his serve, then an unreturnable smash by Cilic and they’re knotted at 3-all at the changeover. Cilic wins the next point and they’re still on serve as Querrey serves at 3-4. And, oh dear! Just as back-to-back unforced errors cost Cilic dearly in the business end of the first-set tiebreaker, now Querrey mixes in a pair of unforced errors at the worst possible time. Cilic now serving at 6-3 with a pair of set points. He needs only the first, crushing a cross-court forehand winner out of Querrey’s reach and he’s now one set from his first Wimbledon final.
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Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-6 Cilic
An easy hold for Cilic capped by a 134mph ace, his biggest serve of the match. Massive tiebreaker afoot.
Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 6-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey holds at love in two shakes of a lamb’s tail and the pressure is back on Cilic, who must hold to force a third-set breaker.
Third set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 5-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Querrey pounces on a second serve, pounds Cilic back on the baseline and takes him up the line for an easy forehand winner. The No24 seed is three points from the set. But Cilic steels himself and rattles off four quick points, punctuated by a 115mph ace out wide, for the critical hold. That’s Cilic’s 48th winner of the match against only 14 unforced errors.
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Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 5-4 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
A whiff of pressure on Querrey and Cilic rips a forehand winner for love-15, but the American strings together a few winners for 40-15. An unforced error by Querrey makes it 40-30, but Cilic returns in kind to gift Querrey the hold. Now Cilic will serve to stay in the third set.
Third set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 4-4 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic holds at love once more, this time in a scant 72 seconds, and he’s won eight straight points on his serve since getting broken.
Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 4-3 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey races out to a 40-love edge. Cilic pulls one back with a forehand winner but Querrey closes out the hold with an ace.
Third set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 3-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic rebounds from his first and only broken service game of the day with another love hold, including his 14th ace (to Querrey’s seven).
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Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 3-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey backs up the break with an easy hold, capped by a forehand smash winner. A promising turn in the narrative for the American.
Querrey breaks in fourth game of third set!
Third set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 2-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)
A huge opportunity for the American here as Cilic plays a couple of loose points to fall behind 15-40, giving Querrey his first look at a break point all afternoon. Cilic saves the first, but Querrey pounds a screaming backhand winner for the crucial break! That came out of nowhere and not a moment too soon for Querrey.
Cilic breaks in third game of third set!
Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 1-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey double-faults to open his service game then falls behind 15-30. Now a gutting unforced error on a forehand volley and suddently the American is staring down a double break point. He saves the first with a thudding ace, but there will be no escape this time as a missed forehand (upheld by a desperate challenge) gives Cilic the break of serve.
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Third set: *Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 1-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another elementary hold for Cilic at love. He’s won 24 of his last 28 service points (and 52 of 63 on the afternoon).
Third set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6, 1-0 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Uh-oh. Querrey loses the first three points on his serve, the latter at the end of a lengthy rally. Now Cilic will have three break-point chances. He saves the first two on a pair of Cilic errors and the third on a forehand volley winner. Deuce. Cilic errs on the backhand side, but responds with a forehand winner for deuce once more. After trading points Querrey finally strings together back-to-back forehand winners to escape with the hold.
Cilic wins second set, 6-4!
Second set: Querrey 7-6, 4-6 Cilic
Querrey nets a couple of returns and Cilic is two points from the set. Now Cilic thuds a 115mph ace and he’ll have three looks at a set point. He needs only one, depositing an elementary open court winner after Querrey could barely get back a serve out wide.
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Second set: Querrey 7-6, 4-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Cilic making more headway on Querrey’s serve now and fighting back from 30-love for 30-all, but Querrey serves his way out of it and now Cilic will serve to level the match at one set apiece.
Second set: *Querrey 7-6, 3-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic backs up the break with brio, holding at love. Just like that, Querrey will serve to stay in the second set. Margins.
Cilic breaks in seventh game of second set!
Second set: Querrey 7-6, 3-4 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Another opportinity for Cilic as Querrey quickly falls behind love-30. And now a missed backhand by Querrey gives Cilic three looks at a break point. The American saves the first, but Cilic crushes a backhand winner to pass an approaching Querrey easily for the first break of the match.
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Second set: *Querrey 7-6, 3-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another quick service hold for Cilic, who closes out the game with a 128mph ace.
Second set: Querrey 7-6, 3-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
An opportunity here for Cilic, who wins the first two points to put Querrey in a love-30 hole. Querrey wins the next two points, the latter on an ace, for 30-all. But he blinks on a baseline rally and Cilic will have another break-point chance. Now Querrey mixes in a serve-and-volley for the first time all match (and on a second serve!) and CIlic nets the return for deuce. That’s followed by back-to-back winners by Querrey, who escapes with the hold.
Second set: *Querrey 7-6, 2-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another elementary hold for Cilic, who’s picked up right where he left off with his serve in the first.
Second set: Querrey 7-6, 2-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
An easy hold for Querrey. Says Guardian US contributor Greg Couch:
Querrey is relentlessly attacking Cilic. Playing unbelievably great. Always had this skill but never looked like a champion b4 now
— Greg Couch (@gregcouch) July 14, 2017
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Second set: *Querrey 7-6, 1-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
An easy hold for Cilic, who needed one after cracking at the end of that tiebreaker. He finishes off the game with a forehand volley winner and Querrey will serve at 1-all.
Second set: Querrey 7-6, 1-0 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Only 10 unforced errors combined in the first set, but those last two made all the difference. Querrey serving to open the second and falls behind love-15 on a Cilic winner. He wins the next two points, but Cilic scratches back with a pair of winners and forces deuce for the first time all afternoon. Now Querrey misses on a forehand and it’s the first break-point chance either player has had today. But Querrey rattles off the next three points to escape with the hold.
Querrey wins first set, 7-6 (6)!
First set: Querrey 7-6 (6) Cilic
Cilic wins the opening point on his serve. Querrey wins his first but then Cilic crushes a forehand winner to move ahead a mini-break. Cilic now serving at 2-1, dialing in an ace and forcing Querrey into an error. Querrey, serving at 1-4, wins both points but he’s still behind a mini-break. Cilic serving at 4-3: Querrey wins a point on a backhand volley winner, then the next point on a backhand error by Cilic. Now it’s Querrey ahead a break, serving at 5-4. Querrey misses on a forehand and they’re back on serve at 5-all. Now Cilic misses on a backhand and Querrey has a set point with Cilic serving at 5-6. A Cilic service winner makes it 6-all. Cilic misses on a first serve and then nearly misses on a second, but a challenge will give him a second serve again. Oh dear. The stewards are moving in the crowd toward someone in the crowd who appears to need medical assistance. We hope they’re OK. But due to the interruption, it’s possible the umpire will give Cilic a first serve. More than three minutes have passed since the last point by the time Cilic steps to the line again. And, yes, Cilic is given a first serve. Interesting wrinkle, that. And Cilic makes a bad error on a backhand, spraying it wide. Now Querrey will be serving for the set at 7-6! And as the clouds break on Centre Court, Cilic misses on a backhand again and Querrey takes the first set, 8-6 in the tiebreaker!
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First set: Querrey 6-6 Cilic
Clinical hold for Querrey and we’re headed to a tiebreak. Only seven combined unforced errors in the set.
First set: *Querrey 5-6 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another easy hold for Cilic, including his sixth ace. And now Querrey will serve to force a first-set tiebreak.
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First set: Querrey 5-5 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Another easy hold for Querrey. Very few opportunities today for the returner, who’s only managed more than one point in a game so far (when Cilic had 15-30 in Querrey’s first service game).
First set: *Querrey 4-5 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic holds at love, capping the game with a 125mph ace down the T. Only seven lost points combined on serve.
First set: Querrey 4-4 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey falls behind love-15 when Cilic smashes an angled backhand winner from the baseline. But Querrey brushes aside the threat by rattling off the next four points, including the last on a 107mph ace out wide.
First set: *Querrey 3-4 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another drama-free service hold for Cilic, who’s now won 16 of 19 points on his serve (84%), compared to 12 of 15 for Querrey (80%).
First set: Querrey 3-3 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey races out to a 40-love advantage before Cilic pulls one back on a forehand winner. But the American responds with a forehand winner of his own to lock down the stress-free hold. Both guys dealing on their serve and working very quickly.
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First set: *Querrey 2-3 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Another easy hold for Cilic, who’s now won 12 of 14 points on his server. With both players serving like this, it likely this entire match will come down to a few crucial points here and there.
First set: Querrey 2-2 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey answers Cilic’s love hold in kind. Barry Gibb and Jude Law in the Royal Box today.
Barry Gibb ready to belt out "You Win Again" for King Roger later I suppose @BryanAGraham?
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) July 14, 2017
Ha ha!
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First set: *Querrey 1-2 Cilic (*denotes next server)
Cilic punctuates the love hold with a 133mph ace. He’s won eight of nine points on his serve. Ominous start.
First set: Querrey 1-1 Cilic* (*denotes next server)
Querrey hits a forehand winner but loses the next two points to fall behind 15-30 and immediately feel a hint of pressure on his serve. But it’s quickly brushed aside with a pair of forehand winners at the net, then he takes the game when Cilic misses on a forehand. Querrey serving the hell out of the ball with an average speed of 129mph in that game, a high of 135mph.
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First set: *Querrey 0-1 Cilic (*denotes next server)
A clincial hold for Cilic to open proceedings: forehand winner, service winner and a forced Querrey error to race to a 40-love lead. Querrey scratches back for a point but Cilic finishes it off when the American misses on a backhand.
Reader Chris Page checks in with an update from the gentlemen’s wheelchair singles:
Stefan Olsson just obliterated former world #1 Shingo Kunieda in the Men’s Wheelchair Singles semis. It was clinical and ruthless - like Muguruza’s dismissal of Rybarikova. Here’s hoping Britain’s Alfie Hewett fares better against Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez, who Hewett recently beat to win the French Open.
The players are on the court going through their warm-ups. The winner of today’s semi-final will top the list for the most attempts before reaching the final at Wimbledon in the Open era, surpassing of Pat Rafter, who reached the final on his eighth appearance here. This is Cilic’s 11th Wimbledon appearance and Querrey’s 10th. Should Querrey win today and reach his first Grand Slam final on his 42nd appearance at a major, he would also join David Ferrer at the top of the list for most attempts before reaching a major final in the Open era.
Hi all and welcome to today’s first men’s semi-final between Sam Querrey and Marin Cilic. It’s the fifth career meeting between the pair including their third at Wimbledon and if history is any indicator, we should settle in for a long ride. Both of their past encounters at the All England Club have gone five sets. In fact their third-round meeting here in 2012 is the second-longest men’s singles match in tournament history, with Cilic winning a 17-15 final set in a match that lasted five hours and 31 minutes.
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Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime why not check out Kevin Mitchell’s report on Sam Querrey’s quarter-final upset of Andy Murray.
