London: Sam Querrey sent hobbling defending champion Andy Murray crashing out of Wimbledon, Wednesday to enter his first Grand Slam semifinal at the 42nd attempt.
One year after knocking out 2015 champion Novak Djokovic in the third round, the 29-year-old Querrey, the World No. 28, won 3-6, 6-4, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1, 6-1.
World No. 1 Murray’s challenge petered out when he began limping off his right leg, his movement severely compromised by a recent hip problem.
“I knew I wasn’t going to do any major damage by playing so I wanted to try and see if it was possible to find a way at the end,” said two-time champion Murray, reluctant to dwell on his injury.
“I’m still in a state of shock. I’m glad I hit that last serve in,” said Querrey who finished with 27 aces and 70 winners. “I didn’t start the best but I just kept swinging away and found my groove in the last two sets.”
Querrey will face Marin Cilic for a place in the final after the 2014 US Open champion defeated Gilles Muller, the conqueror of Rafael Nadal, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5, 5-7, 6-1.
In another huge development, three-time champion Novak Djokovic retired to hand over a semifinal passage to Czech Tomas Berdych. The Serbian was down 6-7(2/7), 0-2 when he quit citing a troubled right shoulder.
It then just left Roger Federer of the ‘Fab Four’ to battle it out with Canadian Milos Raonic. And the Swiss was in exquisite form as he booked a semifinal berth with a fluent 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(7-5) triumph. It was his 100th Wimbledon victory and also ensured a record 12th semifinal appearance.
