Wimbledon giant killings and Murray's chances

There were two giant killings at Wimbledon yesterday. Andy Murray cut down 6' 10" Ivo Karlovic while Lukas Rosol pulled off one of the biggest shocks in the tournament's 126-year history by defeating Rafael Nadal.

Excuses

But both losers put some of the blame the authorities at SW19 rather than allowing all the credit for their opponents. Karlovic was furious after being called for 11 foot-faults - indeed an extraordinary number - at crucial points in the game. The Croat was further incensed when a press officer confused his nationality at the post-match press conference but then made the same mistake himself. Accusing a line-judge of patriotic favouritism he fumed: "I'm angry because I don't expect it here, even against the English guy who they want to win."

Meanwhile, Nadal who had played a strong comeback fourth set to level his match was unhappy at having to wait 40 minutes as the roof was closed before resuming for the fifth.

"Closing the roof wasn't great, but that is sport," Nadal conceded.

The unknown

Rosol, 26, has been on the professional scene for years while making little impact. He is a doubles specialist who, until this year had never played a professional match on grass, failing to qualify for Wimbledon five times. In the run-up to the championships, he didn't make it into the main draw for Eastbourne.

The shock caused by the victory by the world number 100 puts some perspective on the stranglehold held on the sport by Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.

Murray's route

But it also potentially opens up the draw for Murray, who was expected to meet Nadal in the semi-final. That's happened for the past two years with the same result. Murray will still have to progress past Marcos Baghdatis, probably Marin Cilic and likely David Ferrer in the quarters.

His semi-final opponent now looks set to be the dangerous Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, tipped by many to take Murray's place in the top 4.