Patriotism in Great Britain just received the perfect boost prior to the Summer Olympics.
The tennis world will need some time to recover from the shock of seeing Rafael Nadal exit Wimbledon in the second round courtesy of 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol’s earth-shattering and brilliant 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 victory. After all, the Spaniard was in the final in five of the last six years.
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But thoughts in London will immediately turn to what Nadal’s departure means for Andy Murray. The Scotsman, who is seeded fourth, has to be encouraged.
Nadal was on Murray’s side of the draw. Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer aren’t. But the path to the final and the opportunity to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to capture the Wimbledon title both remain far from assured.
Fifth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a 2011 semifinalist, is also in Murray’s quarter of the draw. So is seventh-seeded David Ferrer, who beat Murray in the French Open quarterfinals last month. There is also No. 9 seed Juan Martin Del Potro and No. 30 seed Andy Roddick, the latter who can’t be ignored coming off a title at Eastbourne. Roddick also beat Murray in the Wimbledon semifinals in 2009.
But Nadal has been Murray’s biggest obstacle, beating him at the All England Club in the semifinals in each of the past two years as well as in the quarterfinals in 2008. Last year was the first time in those three matches that Murray even won a set.
This year he won’t have to win any against Nadal.
– Craig Stouffer
