World number one Nadal, fresh from a record ninth French Open, was Wimbledon champion in 20 and runner-up in 2006, 20.īut his last two visits have been humiliating disasters. LONDON: Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic enter Wimbledon plagued by injury fears and self-doubt, leaving Roger Federer convinced that this could be a golden opportunity to capture a record eighth title. RIGHT: Serbia’s Novak Djokovic returns the ball during a training session at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon yesterday. At least he found a way to win from two sets to one down.Roger Federer of Switzerland wipes his face during a training session yesterday, ahead of the Wimbledon in London. The latter came through a sticky five setter with Marin Cilic in which he played with less than his usual fluency and often lost his footing on Court One. He will have that chance tomorrow when he faces Novak Djokovic in the semi final on Centre Court. We want to prove to the older guys that we are just around the corner." She is expected to be in his box if he reaches the Final.ĭimitrov said: "Us younger guys - we want that big stage. Has Mauresmo the skill to get inside Murray's head - that is the question to be answered.ĭimitrov, 23, known as Baby Fed because his style is similar to that of seven times Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, is the boyfriend of Maria Sharapova who was licking her wounds somewhere else after her defeat by Angelique Kerber. What went wrong yesterday was clearly a mental matter. Murray had looked supreme in his first four matches this year. Tennis is a results driven sport and, so far, Mauresmo has presided over a mini disaster - although yesterday's abject capitulation was hardly her fault. He and new coach Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 Ladies champion at Wimbledon, will also sit down to discuss their relationship and whether it will continue. Looking: Amelie Mauresmo (R), coach of Great Britain's Andy Murray (not pictured) watches I think I've played some good tennis but also some ordinary stuff at times." I don't feel I have improved so much since Wimbledon last year. "The younger guys are now obviously becoming more mature and improving all the time, so I need to make improvements to my game. No fight, no heart, no result.Īfterwards a contrite Murray was brave enough to face the press and said: "I need to have a think about things and get myself in better shape and work even harder because everyone is starting to get better. Murray lost his serve at 2-2 in the third set with a double fault (one of five in the match) and that was that.
Murray served only five aces (Dimitrov 10) and managed to break the Bulgarian's serve only once to go four all in the second set and briefly to give his supporters, who included the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, some hope.īut Dimitrov snuffed out the mini revival in the tiebreak, winning the last three points at four all with a thundering one-handed backhand and two delightful volleys at the net. In truth his body language was poor, his serve (particularly his vulnerable second serve) little short of woeful while he hit 37 unforced errors, more than double those of his opponent. Out: Great Britain's Andy Murray looks dejected during his quarter final matchīreaking a string at one crucial point in the second set merely exacerbated Murray's "bad day at the office" as he later put it.
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