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Saturday 8 July 2017

To appreciate Nadal, watch what Murray endured at Wimbledon

By HOWARD FENDRICH cial lights switched on.
AP Tennis Writer “You’re thinking a little bit
LONDON (AP) — To ap- about that, as well — a
preciate fully just how out- change of conditions and
standing Rafael Nadal is at a 20-minute break to think
the moment — 28 consecu- about things before play-
tive completed sets won in ing a fifth set,” said Murray,
Grand Slam play — consid- whose 2013 title was the first
er what Andy Murray went at Wimbledon for a British
through at Wimbledon on man in 77 years. “So, obvi-
Friday. ously, pleased to get off in
Murray’s title defense ap- four.”
peared to be on shaky He barely did that against
ground in the third round, Fognini, who mixed in ef-
particularly through a fective drop shots and lobs
stressful stretch at Centre with pounded ground-
Court against Fabio Fogn- strokes.
ini, the 28th-seeded Italian “I felt superior,” Fognini
who won their most recent said. “He didn’t have many
encounter and had five set options. I had more.”
points to force this one to a Fognini, who drew a warn-
fifth. No telling whether the ing for throwing his racket
No. 1-ranked Murray, or his earlier in the match, was
vocal backers, could have docked a point for sticking
handled that test. Didn’t Spain’s Rafael Nadal returns to Russia’s Karen Khachanov during their Men’s Singles Match on day a finger in his mouth — chair
need to find out, because five at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London Friday, July 7, 2017. umpire Damien Dumusois
Murray was steady enough Associated Press termed it a “visible obscen-
to grab the last five games a 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (3) victory came in the third. Facing champion Jelena Ostap- ity” — and that gave Mur-
and beat Fognini 6-2, 4-6, over 30th-seeded Karen a set point while down 6-5 enko vs. No. 4 Elina Svito- ray a game for 2-all. Rather
6-1, 7-5 as the sunlight fad- Khachanov on Friday, and and serving at 30-40, Nadal lina; No. 6 Johanna Konta than discourage Fognini,
ed. “The end of the match Nadal’s set streak in majors produced a brilliant power- vs. No. 21 Caroline Garcia. or distract him, it seemed
was tense,” Murray said, in equals the third-longest of and-touch combination, Against the sometimes-vol- to provide fuel. Roughly
his typically understated the Open era. hitting a 122 mph (197 kph) atile Fognini, who beat him 15 minutes later, he’d won
way. “It was a very up-and- “I mean, if you don’t hit serve followed by a well- on clay at Rome in May, three games in a row,
down match. I didn’t feel hard and fast, he’s going to disguised drop shot winner. Murray fell behind 5-2 in aided by Murray’s double-
like it was the best tennis at destroy you,” the 21-year- In Monday’s fourth round, the fourth set as dusk ap- fault on a break point, and
times.” The set he did drop old Khachanov said. “If he Nadal faces No. 16 Gilles proached. Murray figured soon held five set points.
was the first ceded so far has time, he’s dominating Muller, who beat Aljaz Be- that if the match went to Couldn’t convert any,
this week by the Big 4: Rog- with his forehand. And he dene 7-6 (4), 7-5, 6-4, while a fifth, play would be inter- though. And so Murray will
er Federer, Novak Djokovic, can play all the angles.” Murray meets unseeded rupted so the retractable play on at the All England
Nadal and Murray. That all- With his friend Sergio Gar- Benoit Paire, a 6-2, 7-6 (3), roof could be closed and Club, much to the delight
conquering quartet com- cia seated in the Royal Box, 6-3 winner against Jerzy the tournament’s only artifi- of the locals.q
bined to win the past 14 wearing the green jacket Janowicz. Other match-
Wimbledon championships earned as Masters cham- ups: 2014 U.S. Open cham-
— half by Federer, three by pion, Nadal put on quite pion Marin Cilic against No.
Djokovic, two apiece by a show. He whipped that 18 Roberto Bautista Agut,
Murray and Nadal. big forehand of his; man- and unseeded Kevin An-
Ah, yes, Nadal. aged to dull serves that derson vs. No. 12 Jo-Wilfried
He is coming off a record topped 130 mph (210 kph) Tsonga or No. 24 Sam Quer-
10th French Open title, enough to earn 15 break rey, whose match was sus-
claiming all 19 full sets he points, converting four; pended Friday night in the
contested in Paris with as and played skillfully at the fifth set because of dark-
overpowering a perfor- net, winning the point on ness.
mance as can be (one 17 of 21 approaches, 4 for 4 Women’s fourth-rounders:
opponent quit because of when he decided to serve- Venus Williams vs. No. 27
injury in the middle of the and-volley. Ana Konjuh, No. 2 Simona
second set). Tack on the The closest Nadal has Halep vs. two-time Austra-
nine collected at the All come to conceding a set lian Open champion Victo-
England Club, including over his past 10 matches ria Azarenka; French Open