This is the first time in Grand Slam Open Era history that all 8 quarterfinalists are from Europe, guaranteeing an all-European semifinal round. Europeans have a habit of storming their way through the draw at Wimbledon; in the past two years here, 7 of the last 8 remaining men have been from this continent.
This is the first time since 2000 that 4 unseeded players have made the quarterfinals here, with an unseeded semifinalist assured. (32 seeds were introduced in 2001.) The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds are into the quarterfinals here for the 5th year running.
Federer, Nadal and Safin are the only Grand Slam champions left in contention.
Queen’s champion Nadal and Halle winner Federer are the only players through to the quarterfinals to have won one of the grasscourt events in the lead-up to Wimbledon, and are 2 of 3 players in the last 8 to own a career grasscourt title.
Murray is the only first-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist and along with Rainer Schuettler and Arnaud Clement, is playing his first Wimbledon quarterfinal today.
For the 7th major in a row, two Spaniards are into the quarterfinals. Spain is the only country with more than one player through to this stage at 2008 Wimbledon.
32-year-old Rainer Schuettler is the oldest player remaining in the draw, and 21-year-old Murray the youngest.
Federer is the only player to have not dropped a set in the tournament so far. He has spent 6 hours 31 minutes on court, at least 2 ¾ hours less than any of the other players to reach this stage. In contrast, Ancic has taken the longest, at 11 hours 43 minutes. (ITF)
