Defending champion Andy Murray knocked out of Wimbledon

The 2016 Wimbledon champion and home favourite, Andy Murray, could not advance to the semifinal of the tournament after falling to Sam Querrey on Wednesday.

The world number one lost in a five-set thriller 3-6 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-1 6-1 to the 29-year-old American 24th seed, who has now become the first American man to reach a Grand Slam semi-final since Andy Roddick at Wimbledon in 2009.

This is the second time in a row that Querrey is sending out the defending champion at Wimbledon; the world No. 28 also stunned Novak Djokovic in 2016 in the third round.

Murray’s previous attempt to defend his Wimbledon crown ended in the same stage, as he fell to Grigor Dimitrov in 2014.

30-year-old Murray seemed to be struggling with hip injury as he lost to Querrey – who now plays Marin Cilic, who defeated Gilles Muller also in a five-set match on Wednesday – in the semifinals.

Read Also: Venus Williams on course for 6th Wimbledon title

“I’m still in a little bit of shock myself,” Querrey told the BBC after this victory.

“That last point I was just hoping to hit the serve. I’m just thrilled right now.

“I didn’t start my best but I just kept with it, kept swinging away.

“And I really found my groove in the fourth and fifth set and everything seemed to be falling my way then.”

Meanwhile, Murray’s defeat means second seed, Novak Djokovic, who plays Tomas Berdych later on Wednesday, could overtake him as world number one if he makes it to Sunday’s final and wins the title.

 

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