Home-hope Murray reaches last eight

British second seed Andy Murray survived a second set wobble to carve out a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win over Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday.

Murray, the runner-up to Roger Federer in 2012, will face Spain’s Fernando Verdasco for a place in the semi-finals.

The Scot has an 8-1 winning record over unseeded Verdasco, a former top-10 player.

World number one Djokovic, the 2011 champion, dropped his serve for the first time at this year’s tournament before beating Tommy Haas, the 35-year-old German 13th seed, 6-1, 6-4, 7-6 (7/4) in the fourth round.

Djokovic will be playing in his 17th successive Grand Slam quarter-final where he will face Tomas Berdych, the seventh seed and 2010 runner-up, who beat Australia’s Bernard Tomic, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-4.

Djokovic boasts a 13-2 career record over Berdych but lost to him at Wimbledon in 2010.

Battle

Murray had to battle back from 2-5 down in the second set to quell the threat posed by Youzhny who needed treatment on a shoulder injury after one game of the third set.

Murray put in an impressive serving performance, firing 15 aces and hitting 45 winners past the experienced Russian.

“It was a tough match, the first couple of sets especially. He also had a few chances at the beginning of the third set as well but once I got ahead in the third I concentrated very hard not to let him back in like I did in the second set,” said Murray.

Despite closing in on another final, Murray said he could not become complacent after the shock early exits of Federer and Rafael Nadal.

“I don’t take anything for granted. I know how hard these tournaments are to win and to do well in. So I don’t expect to come into these sort of events to win them,” said the US Open and Olympic champion.

“There’s no guarantees here at all. I just concentrate on each match. Serena Williams lost and she doesn’t lose particularly often.

“Roger’s lost and Rafa’s lost. All these guys and girls are better players than me and have achieved a lot more than me and so if they can lose so can I and I just concentrate on the next one and try and get through it.”

Verdasco will pose a different challenge with Murray not having faced a left-hander in 2013.

“He’s played very well this tournament he’s had some good wins against some solid players. He’s a very talented player,” said Murray.

“I haven’t played a lefty this whole year amazingly. I need to return some lefty serves and hope for the best.”

Verdasco is now at 54 in the world having once been as high as nine in 2009.

The 29-year-old is playing in his 41st straight Grand Slam.