Andy Murray, Milos Raonic Move Into Queen’s QFs; John Isner Blows 10 MPs In Loss

Tournament top seeds Andy Murray and Milos Raonic both advanced in straights to the quarterfinals on Thursday at Queen’s.

World No. 2 Murray breezed past countryman Aljaz Bedene 6-3, 6-4.

“I had to be a little bit more proactive against someone playing predominantly from the back of the court,” Murray said. “I had never played against him before. I have practiced with him a few times but have never seen him play much on grass, either. It’s nice having the Brits around, guys I know well from Davis Cup and [with whom] I have become close over the years.”

The 4-time champ Murray will clash with another countryman Friday in Kyle Edmund.

Raonic had a little tougher afternoon in ousting lucky loser Jiri Vesely 7-5, 7-6(6).

“Overall I have to be happy with how I did,” Raonic said. “I found my way forward. I was dictating from a neutral position and then able to transition and come forward and be efficient. I’m coming in a lot. I feel like I’m volleying well, putting the volleys in the right place, covering the right angles. It’s all coming together.”

Raonic will await the Donald Young-Roberto Bautista Agut winner late on Friday.

In the match of the day, Gilles Muller saved 10 (!!!) matchpoints to deny John Isner 6-3, 6-7(16), 7-6(7). Isner, who hit 43 aces, held eight matchpoints in the 18-16 second set breaker and another two in the final breaker.

According to the ATP, Muller’s 11 MPs saved is just shy of the 11 Adriano Panatta fought off to beat Kim Warwick at 1976 Rome.

QUEEN’S FRIDAY SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT start 11:00 am
[6] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) vs [Q] D. Young (USA) 64 00
Not Before 12:00 noon
S. Johnson (USA) vs [5] M. Cilic (CRO)
[1] A. Murray (GBR) vs [WC] K. Edmund (GBR)
[6] R. Bautista Agut (ESP) or [Q] D. Young (USA) vs [3] M. Raonic (CAN)
G. Muller (LUX) vs B. Tomic (AUS)