Murray v Federer In Final? Andy Remains Cautious
Locker Room
July 2, 2016
Deep down, he must be dreaming of a final against Roger Federer like the rest of us.
But Andy Murray was gentlemanly and cautious when he gave his reaction to the stunning news that Novak Djokovic is out of Wimbledon.
The Brit, who defeated John Millman 6-3, 7-5, 6-2 with relative ease, wasn’t about to kick the great Djokovic while his rival was down.
And he was keen to avoid any suggestion that Novak’s four-set defeat to Sam Querrey had in some way made his own success at Wimbledon 2016 a formality.
‘I need to reach the final for that result to have any bearing on my performance. I have tough guys left in my half of he draw, especially in the next round. Novak’s run has been amazing. He almost found a way to get back into at one.
‘What he has done in the last 12 to 18 months, I don’t think we’ll see for a long, long time. It’s unfortunate for him but it’s an amazing run he’s been on.
Right now everyone expects Novak to win every match he plays. It’s impossible to win every match you play in every single tournament.’
The truth is that Murray has been waiting all year for Novak’s form to dip. Why it happened at Wimbledon, Djokovic wouldn’t say, though he hinted at a virus or strain.
When asked if he was one hundred per cent, Novak said: ‘Not really but I don’t want to talk about it and I don’t want to take anything away from my opponent’s performance.’
Murray plays either Nick Kyrgios or Feliciano Lopez next but must feel confident of progressing. A Murray v Roger Federer final would be the dream scenario.
We will have to wait and see. But the form book would suggest that it may well come a reality.