Murray slays Karlovic

By Niall Clarke

  • Andy Murray defeats Ivo Karlovic in four sets on centre court
  • The Brit came through 7-6 (7), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4
  • He will play Vasek Pospisil in the quarter finals

London, UK- Andy Murray needed four sets to slay the 6’11 Ivo Karlovic and book his place in Wednesday’s quarter finals.

The British number one was on centre court for three hours and three minutes as he defeated the big serving Croatian 7-6 (7), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

Murray, 28, was taken the distance in the first set, despite having four chances to take the set on the Karlovic serve. The third seed was eventually awarded in the first set tiebreak, taking it 9-7.

The Brit continued to chop at his opponent’s huge serve, and eventually it cracked in the first game of the second set. Murray then held serve all the way to take it 6-4.

The third seemed destined to head towards a tiebreak, but a poor service game from the Brit ended up costing him the set 7-5.

Murray was able to muster enough to break the giant’s serve one last time in the fourth set. An inspired challenge showed a Karlovic volley miss by a blade of grass, leaving Murray just games away from victory.

Karlovic had one last wind though, and he knocked on the door of the Murray serve in the following game. However the third seed saved the break points to come within one game of the quarter finals. The first match point was earned on the Croatian’s serve, but the 6’11 man used his tall frame to reach a low passing shot and save the break point with a fantastic volley.

It did not faze Murray who in the next game served out the match, and completed his giant killing. The Brit celebrated to the cheers of the home crowd as their man has reached the Wimbledon quarter finals…. Again.

It took some patience, great returns and some even better passing shots and lobs to do it, but in the end Murray came out a proud victor.

“I came up with some good lobs and passing shots. I just needed to keep him low,” Murray told BBC SPORT

“It was an incredibly difficult match. It was mentally tiring. Maybe not as tiring physically due to the points being so quick.

“You’ve always got to be ready to take your chances. It’s about getting the balance right and getting through. It wasn’t going to be the best tennis, it was about getting through.”

The Scot has never lost to Karlovic in their six meetings as his record against the biggest servers in the game continues to improve.

He will have to tackle another one in the quarter finals when he faces Canada’s Vasek Pospisil. The unseeded player came from two sets down to beat Viktor Troicki earlier in the day.

Murray will now have a day off as the women’s quarter finals are played on Tuesday. The Brit will then take to court on the Wednesday as he continues his quest for a second Wimbledon triumph.

Murray will play Pospisil in the quarter finals on Wednesday. You can follow his progress on our live scoring service: Live Scores 

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