ESPN Wimbledon 2008

Originally Published: June 18, 2008

Can Murray maintain momentum versus Nadal?

His career rife with controversy, Andy Murray had suddenly become England's favorite son. But all the momentum and magic that has emanated this fortnight may come to a sudden halt against Rafael Nadal.

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By Ravi Ubha
Special to ESPN.com
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AP Photo/Kirsty WigglesworthAndy Murray could become only the third Brit to reach a Grand Slam semifinal in the Open era.

In February, citing a sore right knee, Murray bailed on Great Britain's Davis Cup team days before its first World Group encounter in five years. He suggested that changing surfaces, from hard courts to clay, wouldn't be beneficial, while others felt he pulled because playing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, wasn't an enticing proposition. His own brother, doubles specialist Jamie, labeled the withdrawal "disappointing,'' and the knee looked fine the following week as Murray claimed a title indoors in Marseille, France.

A reminder that he's also bad-mouthed the Lawn Tennis Association, the sport's governing body in Great Britain -- more than once.

All that seemed forgotten on Tuesday, a day after Murray showed "true Brit'' and was "inspirational, defiant'' and "aggressive,'' according to the British media, in a five-set, fourth-round win over the unfortunate Richard Gasquet on Centre Court, which was formerly governed, at least from the British perspective, by gentleman Tim Henman.

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WIMBLEDON, England -- A 30-year-old, or thirty-something, popping up in the Wimbledon men's quarterfinals isn't so unusual. Jonas Bjorkman did it just two years ago.

But two, Rainer Schuettler and Arnaud Clement, facing each other?

That hasn't happened since Tom Okker downed Ilie Nastase in 1978.

"Who knows,'' Schuettler said with a laugh following practice today. "Maybe it will be more common in the future.''

Adding to the quirkiness Wednesday is that both former Australian Open finalists, renown for their fitness, have slumped in the last year -- at least.

When he defeated Benjamin Becker in the second round last week, it marked the second time since 2004 Clement, ranked 145th, made it past the round of 64 at a Grand Slam.

He admitted to playing "grotesquely'' in a first-round loss to fellow Frenchman Gael Monfils at Roland Garros in May, Clement's misery compounded by going out in doubles at the same stage with usual partner Michael Llodra. The two claimed Wimbledon in 2007, eliminating the Bryan twins, Bob and Mike, in the final.

They couldn't defend their crown due to shoulder and hip injuries to Llodra, which might have been a blessing in disguise for Clement.

The 30-year-old's victims en route to the last eight have included Bjorkman and 19-year-old Croatian prospect Marin Cilic.

"I would have preferred to defend the doubles title with Michael and wish that he wasn't hurt,'' said Clement, whose 5-foot-8 frame doesn't aid his power, yet makes him as speedy as they come. "But maybe on the level of energy, for Wednesday I'll be 100 percent, and it's true, if I had to play doubles, then it would have made it more delicate.''

Schuettler, ranked 94th, entered the fortnight with four top-tier victories in 2008 and didn't even get his own page in the tour's media guide. The last time he surpassed the second round of a major came at Wimbledon four years ago.

James Blake's conqueror in the second round, Schuettler is 4-1 versus Clement.

"Both of us are prepared for a long match,'' said Schuettler, 32. "I have to be aggressive. He's very good on grass, is very solid, and moves very well.''

--Ravu Ubha

The Sun, England's top-selling newspaper and no stranger to controversy, proclaimed, "Murray shows he's Mr. Muscle.'' The Daily Mirror, another risqué tabloid, hailed the 21-year-old and subsequently listed the top 10 sports comebacks -- Murray's four-hour epic being the catalyst.

Murray orchestrated and inspired the crowd, especially on the point that sealed the third-set tiebreak. He chased down a Gasquet volley that appeared destined to be a winner and unleashed a backhand slice that found the corner of the court.

He roared like a lion; most of the 15,000 fans in the stadium purred (only louder); Gasquet, by his own admission, sagged. The drama was watched by 10.5 million people on the BBC yesterday -- more viewers than last year's gripping men's final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. It claimed an audience share of more than 44 percent.

None of the Murray magic was witnessed a year ago, since a wrist injury sidelined him.

"Much has been made of the support he gets, yet I don't think there's ever been an issue with the Centre Court crowd getting behind Andy,'' said Henman, now in the broadcast booth for the BBC. "The press sometimes like to make an issue of it, but I think he's got great support.''

Murray might need as much support as he can get on Wednesday, given that a quarterfinal showdown with world No. 2 and two-time Wimbledon finalist Nadal looms.

Nadal is 3-0 versus Murray and riding a 21-match winning streak, although an injury behind his right knee in a demolition job over tricky Russian Mikhail Youzhny earlier Monday put a scare into him.

The crowd favorite en route to claiming the Artois Championships at the Queen's Club in southwest London this month, Nadal wasn't concerned about an unruly atmosphere.

"The Wimbledon crowd are very respectful with everybody,'' Nadal said. "And with me, when I go on court, I feel the people are always with me, so that's very nice. I felt the same last week at Queen's. I know if I play against Andy, probably the crowd is going to be with him. But I think with me they're going to be nice, too, no?''

Prior to Wimbledon, Murray boasted he could become the first British man to win Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936, despite not ever reaching a Grand Slam quarterfinal. Little surprise, then, that Murray felt he had a chance against Nadal.

He stretched Nadal in both of their hard-court battles, taking him to five sets at the 2007 Australian Open and keeping him on court for nearly 2½ hours at the Madrid Masters in October. On clay in Hamburg, Germany, in May, Nadal cruised in 78 minutes.

"I felt at the start of the week I had a chance of winning,'' Murray said. "Obviously wasn't the favorite. But I said it was more the consistency that was the most important part to give myself the best chance, and I think I've been pretty consistent so far.''

Henman, who reportedly termed Murray a "miserable git'' recently, backed him to create more magic on Wednesday.

"On the back of the [Gasquet] match, I can't not back Murray to make the semis,'' Henman said. "It's going to be tight, but I'm going for a five-set win for Murray.''

Ravi Ubha is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com.