(Adds quotes) * Top seed races through to quarter-finals * Djokovic plays down shoulder concerns By Pritha Sarkar LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) – If there were fears Novak Djokovic’s double-fisted backhands may malfunction after a heavy fall on his shoulder three days ago, they were allayed on Monday by a show-stopping crosscourt service return on match point. Running to the net to shake hands with his French victim, Djokovic’s celebrations were briefly put on hold as he discovered that his opponent had the temerity to challenge what the top seed thought was the shot of the match. The 6-3 6-4… Read More
Tennis-Middle Sunday off is a bad idea, says Djokovic
By Pritha Sarkar LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) – Wimbledon’s routine of no play on the middle Sunday needs changing so that player interests are preserved and competitors do not have to endure best-of-five-set matches on successive days, said Novak Djokovic. Two days of rain, on Saturday and Monday, at the grasscourt major have thrown the schedule into disarray and left players like Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka facing the prospect of three best-of-five-set matches in three days to reach the semi-finals. Top seed Djokovic is lucky to have avoided the mayhem as he was not scheduled to play on Saturday… Read More
Champion Murray in a hurry on Center Court
By Clare Lovell LONDON (Reuters) – Young gun Grigor Dimitrov stands between Andy Murray and the Wimbledon semi-finals and the champion is clearly wary of the Bulgarian he describes as "coming into his prime". The Briton, who beat big-serving South African Kevin Anderson on Monday, has enjoyed a smooth run into the second week, playing within himself to reach the quarter-finals without dropping a set.
Impressive Dimitrov sets up Murray meeting
By Tom Hayward LONDON (Reuters) – Grigor Dimitrov set up a mouth-watering quarter-final clash with Wimbledon title holder Andy Murray after a 6-4 7-6(6) 6-2 victory against Argentine Leonardo Mayer on Monday. Nicknamed Baby Fed for the similarity of his playing style with that of 17-times grand slam champion Roger Federer, the Bulgarian 11th seed extended his winning run on grass to nine matches with a plethora of eye-catching shots. He won his fourth career title in the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event at Queen’s Club this month and has now followed up by booking his first quarter-final at the All… Read More
Tennis-Champion Murray in a hurry on Centre Court
* Scot downs Anderson in straight sets * Murray wary of next opponent Dimitrov (Recasts with quotes) By Clare Lovell LONDON, June 30 (Reuters) – Young gun Grigor Dimitrov stands between Andy Murray and the Wimbledon semi-finals and the champion is clearly wary of the Bulgarian he describes as “coming into his prime”. The Briton, who beat big-serving South African Kevin Anderson on Monday, has enjoyed a smooth run into the second week, playing within himself to reach the quarter-finals without dropping a set.