Live Wimbledon Blog / Sean Calvert / 02 July 2008 / Leave a comment

Sean Calvert will bring you all the action from Wimbledon as the Murray-Nadal quarter-final takes centre stage

20.15: Murray smashes a racquet as he goes down and out of this year's event.

Nadal was just far too good today and at the absolute minimum we should have another cracking final between the Spaniard and Federer (assuming they both come through their semi finals of course).

As for Murray, he's had a decent tournament, but he looks well short of competing with the 'big three' and with Nadal and Djokovic being more or less the same age it's going to be tough for the Scot to make the breakthrough.

Oh well, at least Schuettler's still winning and I can concentrate on that one now!!

I'll be back again on Friday, but the blog will be back tomorrow with the Ladies Semi Finals. Will it be another all-Williams final??

20.00: This should be all over soon. Nadal has broken again and the Spaniard is now serving at 4-3 with a break and he is no offers.. but you can lay him at [1.01] if you're feeling brave!

19.45: The crowd are trying their best to raise Murray's spirits and their own and they got excited when Murray got to 15-30 on the Nadal serve, but that glimmer of an opening was soon snuffed out and a Murray backhand down the line went wide to give Nadal the game at 2-2.

Schuettler is winning though if anyone other than me actually cares! I've got a maximum bet on this!!

19.30: This is a good hiding now, but at least it means I can sign off earlier than expected after the rain delays!

Murray's been out-hit, out-thought and out-fought in all areas of the game so far and a quick look at the stats says it all really.

Total points won: Nadal 61, Murray 31.

Enough said. At least I have the consolation of the chance of a profit on Rainer Schuettler against Clement on Court 1. Come on the German!!

19.20: Murray's been broken to love again and Nadal is just unplayable on this form.

The world number two hit an outrageous backhand winner from an impossible to bemuse Murray a few moments ago and at a set and 2-5 down, Scotland's finest is [55.0] for a most unlikely comeback.

19.05: This is looking all over already!!

Murray has just been broken to love and finished with a limp double fault and the atmosphere on Centre Court is flat to say the least.

He's a set and break down to arguably the best player in the world right now and doesn't look to have recovered from the Gasquet match.

Murray is [34.0] for the match, with Nadal a lock at [1.02].

18.53: Can Murray come back from this?? It seems unlikely to me. Email me at sw19betfairblogger@hotmail.co.uk

Safin lost his serve but broke Lopez for victory on Court 1 and is now [29.0] to pick up another slam.

18.50: Murray was the architect of his own downfall there really. He was 15-0 up and had an easy put away in the next point but chose to use the drop shot again and dumped it limply into the net.

Nadal had two break points after that and after saving the first one with a great forehand down the line, Murray hacked a smash long and Nadal is all of a sudden serving for the set at 5-3 and [1.06] for the match.

18.40: Murray had to dig deep there to save two break points, but hold he did and we're level at 3-3.

The Betfair public aren't too impressed though, as Murray drifts to [8.0] after that last service game.

Meanwhile Safin is serving for a place in the semi final against Federer at 5-2 in the fourth set against Lopez.

18.30: Some impressive serving helps Murray to hold easily for 2-2, but he's drifted to [7.0] for victory against Nadal's [1.15].

18.25: The first two games are shared as they both hold - Murray's was thanks to a few framed mishits from Nadal.

Meanwhile, Safin took the breaker easily on Court One and has gone [1.25] to face Federer in the semi finals.

18.17: We're all set then for the big one and Nadal it is to serve first. Let's go Murray!

18.10: Just before we concentrate on Murray's attempt to become the first Briton to make the semi finals since Henman in 2002 (lost to Hewitt), they're into a breaker over on Court 1, where Safin is [1.83] for the match.

18.00: Fed has completed his straight sets victory over a disappointing Mario Ancic and we await the main event of the evening.

Safin and Lopez are still going at it on Court One in a contest of who can stay mentally sound for the longest. Who's your money on for that?! Flaky Feliciano or Mental Marat?

Lopez earned a break point at 4-4, but Safin closed it out with an ace and this game could take a while by the looks!

17.50: Right, what do we all reckon then for Murray v Nadal?

The sun's out now and the scene is set for perhaps another classic.

I'll put my cards on the table and admit that I backed Murray at [48.0] in the outright market a while ago and I haven't traded out yet despite the fact that he's got Nadal to overcome today.

I can't help it, I'm riding this one out in the hope of a miracle! Anyone agree with my choice or have I had too much sun lately? sw19betfairblogger@hotmail.co.uk is the place for your views.

17.45: Greg Rusedski is giving Lopez a bit of dressing down on commentary, as the Spanish lefty has been showing the more frustrating side of his game in recent times.

Should be a very good match for a trade this one, as both of these players go through spells of brilliance, followed by some parks stuff.

As it stands, Safin is 3-2 on serve and has shortened to [1.53] to take the match.

Federer meanwhile has eased to a 4-2 lead in the third, which means it will shortly be Murray time!

17.30: Lopez had a decent chance on the Safin serve at 5-5, 0-30, but a few dodgy shots gave Safin the game.

The Spaniard then netted a forehand to hand Safin two set points at 5-6 and Safin took the second of them and with it the set and we have a new favourite in the Russian at [1.65], with Lopez, who surely choked at the end of that set, out to [2.52].

Safin did very little to win that set, but somehow he's back in it!

17.20: Safin's just shown why he's slid down the rankings and within the space of two shots encapsulated his inconsistency.

First he nets the simplest of volleys that I would make nine times out of ten, then he hits a brilliant forehand winner on the run down the line the very next shot!

Typical Safin. Lopez holds and it's 5-5 in the second.

17.12: Federer serves out the set with ease, finishing with an ace and goes two sets to the good.

Ancic is now [95.0] if anyone fancies a Murray-style comeback bet.

It looks to be a more competitive affair on Court One, where Safin was a break up, but it's now level at 4-4 in the second and that's where we'll go now as Fed looks home and hosed on Centre.

Safin is [2.54], with Lopez at [1.64].

17.07: Fed holds without too many problems and Ancic throws in a double fault at a crucial time at break point down at 5-5 to hand Federer the break of serve.

That error looks to be crucial and although it's still early, that could be that for the Croatian.

17.00: More decent stuff from Ancic and another love service game gives him a 5-4 lead in the second set and Fed must serve to stay in it in a few moments time.

Ancic down to [34.0] with Fed at [1.02]

16.50: This is a much more aggressive Mario Ancic now. Lots of fist pumping and positive body language in this second set.

He's come down from [55.0] to [38.0] on the back of that, although he hasn't managed a break point yet!

Lopez held to take the first set off Safin on Court 1, but has gone out a touch to [1.63].

16.45: Ancic has resumed in much more positive fashion after the break and after an easy opening service game, the Croatian gave the Swiss a few problems on his serve.

Perhaps we're in for a more competitive set!

Lopez, meanwhile is serving for the first set at 5-3 against Safin.

16.30: We're back on Centre Court at last after a sizeable and extremely annoying rain delay!

Federer is [1.01] to complete the win over Ancic, who is available at [55.0]. Meanwhile on Court 1, Lopez is [1.55] to take out Safin, with the Russian at [2.76].

16.20: I'm hearing that we may be experiencing the last of the rain very soon and afterwards we'll get a clear spell for the rest of the day. Let's hope that's right, as I'm having to sit through another re-run of Murray v Gasquet at the moment!

In fact the covers are off again now and the players are due out in about ten minutes. About time because I've just spotted Cliff Richard in the crowd and I could well do without a 'surprise' rendition of Summer Holiday any time soon.

16.01: False alarm.. looks like the covers are going back on and there'll be another delay.

Will we get to see Murray at all today?? It seems unlikely at the moment, but the weather is supposed to clear up as the day goes on, so there is hope!

15.45: It gets worse.. the ever industrious Garry Richardson has tracked down Tarby and Bruce Forsyth and subjected us to the ageing comics' tips for the title amongst a few creaky one-liners.

On the plus side, the covers are now off on Centre, but there's still a bit of rain in the air.

Federer will be well used to this of course, but how will it affect Safin, Lopez and Ancic?

15.34: It's stopped raining and the covers are off on the outside courts! Centre and Court 1 are still covered, but there should be a resumption in play in about half an hour by the looks of things - assuming there's no further rain.

The Beeb have resorted to interviewing Alan Titchmarsh about his views on tennis. Hmmm..

15.10: Well, there doesn't appear to be any sign of life yet and the documentary has now progressed to Andre Agassi and his ponytailed win over Goran in 1992.

Borg is basically commenting on all the champs since him; aided (or not) by Henman's astute line in questioning.

Back to today though and Federer has been clipped to [1.7] for the tournament, while Ancic is now [160.0]. Safin has drifted to [75.0] and Lopez is in to [70.0].

14.47: The Beeb have given up with studio chat and gone for a Tim Henman presented documentary about Bjorn Borg. Even as I type they're showing Borg v Nastase from 1976. Some things never change do they?

Is it me or does Henman exude the same 'rabbit-in-the-headlights' look on tv as he did on court?

14.27: They're off! The rain has been persistent but minor and now it's a bit heavier and they've gone off on Centre Court with the score at 1-1 in the second set. They've followed suit on Court 1 with Lopez 5-2 up.

Feel free to keep me entertained by emailing sw19betfairblogger@hotmail.co.uk. I could do with some distraction from Boris Becker's inane rambling during this rain break.

What are your thoughts on Murray? A good bet at [5.6]?

14.20: Meanwhile, over on Court 1, the favourites have flip-flopped and as predicted, Safin is struggling against Lopez. The Spaniard leads 4-1 in the first set and is now [1.6] against the Russian's [2.6] quote.

Ancic has held serve and goes 1-0 up in the second set on Centre.

14.16: It's all too easy for the number one seed at the moment as he takes the first set in double quick time. He's won it 6-1 in twenty minutes and is now [1.01] for the match. Ancic looks a world away from the Baby Goran who stunned Fed all those years ago.

14.10: Super Mario is on the board, but Federer is looking like he means business so far this afternoon. The bad news is the rain has started to fall again and we may be off shortly. Fed's 4-1 up now.

14.05: Federer's wasting no time after the rain delay and he's 3-0 up on Mario Ancic already! Bad news for those of us who had a punt on Ancic plus 7.5 games at [1.74] earlier.

There's not much confidence in the Croatian, he's out to [30] already!

14.01: Great news! After a spell of rain, the covers are off and we're all set for an afternoon/evening of excellent tennis.

The first players ready to play are Safin and Lopez on Court 1. Safin is the favourite here at [1.69] against Lopez, who holds a 4-1 head-to-head advantage at [2.38].

I quite fancy an upset here, but you just never know with Safin.

My wager of the day has got to be Rainer Schuettler to beat Arnaud Clement in the match following this one on Court One. Surely [2.08] has got to be a steal here, no? I'm all in on that one.

No doubt Federer will appear soon in that questionable Roy Emerson style cardigan, but in the meantime send me your comments, questions and queries at sw19betfairblogger@hotmail.co.uk

Tags: Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal, Wimbledon