Andy Murray Advances To Wimbledon Quarterfinals For The Seventh Time

Defending champion Andy Murray advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals on Monday for the seventh year in a row.

Murray scored the winning point against Kevin Anderson during a men’s singles match at All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, according to the Daily Herald. Murray defeated the 20th-seeded, six foot eight inch tall South African 6-4, 6-3, and 7-6 (6).

Murray’s winning match lasted two hours and 33 minutes. The first half was played outdoors; but when it began to rain, Murray and Anderson were forced to compete indoors, under the roof on Centre Court.

“When it was outdoors, I played very well and was in a good position. When we came back indoors, he started to strike the ball a bit better, he started serving better,” Murray said, according to NewsObserver.com.“It’s a good win because he was playing well at the end and making it very tough for me. It’s good to get through in straight sets.”

In the stands observing Murray’s win were a few notable celebrities, including Virgin businessman Richard Branson, musician Cliff Richard, and 1970s Wimbledon finalist Ilie Nastase.

Murray was able to stop the serves of Kevin Anderson, which averaged 123 mph (198 kph), acquiring 19 break points, converting four and eventually allowing Murray to advance to the quarterfinals.

Murray said:

“Some days you get lucky with that. Some days you don’t. You pretty much guess a lot of the time. Sometimes you go the wrong way and sometimes you go the right way, and thankfully today I picked a few good ones.”

Andy Murray is a third-seeded British tennis player who is keeping a winning streak of 17 straight matches at the All England Club, which includes Andy’s gold medal run at the 2012 London summer Olympics.

According to Tennis.com, Murray has lost only 32 games in four matches. Andy Murray is currently only one round away from the chance of a semifinal standoff with top-seeded Novak Djokovic. Murray beat Djokovic in the finals last year. This made Andy Murray the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years.

Murray’s next match will be against 11-seeded Grigor Dimitrov. Grigor beat Leonardo Mayer from Argentina 6-4, 7-6 (6), 6-2 and entered the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time in his career, the first Bulgarian man to do so.

Andy Murray said:

“All of the matches are tough. Everyone that’s in the quarterfinals of Slams, they’re playing top tennis. I just have to do what I’ve got to do and concentrate on my side of the court. If I play well, I’ll make it tough for them.”

Andy Murray recently honored Elena Baltacha, who died of liver cancer in May. A ceremonial coin toss was also held in honor of Baltacha.