Monday 6 July 2015 15:38, UK
Three down and four to go for Andy Murray, who is still dreaming of Wimbledon glory to add to his triumph two years ago. We look at his route to the final ahead of the second week of action.
Following a dramatic first week which saw dreadlocked German qualifier Dustin Brown remove Rafa Nadal from Murray's half of the draw, we now know what the British No 1 has to do if he is to go all the way once again.
The Scot struggled through a straight-sets victory over Mikhail Kukushkin on Tuesday before getting his act together against Dutchman Robin Haase on Court One a few days later. On Saturday, Murray stumbled in the third set before closing out a relatively comfortable victory over Andreas Seppi to reach the fourth round.
Now, we look at Murray's path to glory in the second week at the All England Club where there could well be a potential showdown against seven-time champion Roger Federer and also a repeat of the 2013 final with world No 1 Novak Djokovic.
Fourth Round
Ivo Karlovic
A big concern for Murray is the 6ft 11ins Ivo Karlovic because he has the serve to blast anyone off the court. The giant Croat stands between 2013 Wimbledon champion Murray and an eighth consecutive quarter-final appearance at the All England Club. Karlovic has served more aces than anyone in tennis history, blasting 136 alone in his three Wimbledon matches this year.
Zagreb-native Karlovic shrugged off viral meningitis two years ago, making a complete recovery to climb the world rankings back to number 25 at the age of 36. The oldest man in Wimbledon's second week since 1976 has adopted a nothing-to-lose attitude since the health scare. Just last month, he blasted an ATP Tour three-set record 45 aces against Tomas Berdych in Halle, and boasted the fastest serve of all time at 156 mph until Sam Groth's 163 mph in 2012.
The 36-year-old Karlovic is the oldest player to reach the last 16 at a major since Jimmy Connors did so at the 1991 US Open at the age of 39. Murray has won all five of their previous matches, including a second-round meeting at Wimbledon three years ago, so the Scot will be confident he can keep his tilt for a second Wimbledon title alive.
Quarter-Final
Vasek Pospisil or Viktor Troicki
If Murray can withstand the bombardment from Karlovic, then he will come up against James Ward's conqueror Pospisil or Serb Troicki. This was meant the be the round the British No 1 was due to meet Rafa Nadal, but his shock defeat to Dustin Brown blew his half of the draw wide open. Murray will be happy to face either player having already racked up wins against them both this year.
Pospisil lost in straight sets at both Indian Wells and Rotterdam, and Troicki has been beaten by Murray in all seven of their matches, with the most recent coming in the semi-finals at Queen's with an assured and confident display, despite being pushed by the Serb.
Semi-Final
Roger Federer or Tomas Berdych
If four-time Queen's Club champion Murray is to reach his third Wimbledon final, he will have to get past legend Roger Federer. The 33-year-old, who won the Gerry Weber Open for an eighth time heading to Wimbledon continues his quest for a record eighth title in south west London and 18th major.
The Swiss has dropped just one set so far, in his third-round win over Sam Groth and next faces Spanish 20th seed Roberto Bautista Agut, who was voted the most improved player of 2014. Federer insists he is no longer obsessed by eclipsing Pete Sampras to claim a record eighth Wimbledon crown. "It used to be more the case, you know, trying to equal Pete; that stuff," said Federer. "Now this is more something like you talk about for a couple weeks, it's gone again and then you have to wait a year if you don't do it."
Federer reduced Murray to tears after the 2012 final and leads him 12-11 overall, and the Dunblane-born star has not beaten the Swiss since their semi-final meeting at the 2013 Australian Open. Czech Tomas Berdych has been playing the tennis of this life this year and the 2010 finalist could also be a potential semi-final opponent for Murray. They are locked at 6-6 in meetings although the Scot did beat him at this stage at the Australian Open and most famously in the last four during his 2012 US Open triumph.
The Final
Most Likely: Novak Djokovic
If Murray manages to go all the way, world No 1 Novak Djokovic may well be waiting for him in the final. The defending champion faces a possible semi-final against Stan Wawrinka, the man who beat him in the French Open final. He will face South African 14th seed Kevin Anderson in the fourth round, defending a 4-1 career lead.
The Serb's elastic-limbed defence has been untroubled in his three opening skirmishes, yet Anderson has weapons and can test the best if they are not on their game. Djokovic could then face a potential quarter-final clash against US Open champion Marin Cilic. But if all goes according to plan then the dream final could see these two slug it out in a repeat of the 2013 showpiece, which Murray won in three gruelling sets. But that was his last win against Djokovic - nine matches ago.
