AEGON Championships - Quarterfinals

Andy Murray looks to reach his first semifinal since March.

All the top 5 seeds, including defending champ fifth seed Marin Cilic, are into the quarterfinals. However, the rest of the 11 seeds were knocked out, except eighth seed Kevin Anderson who withdrew with injury. Sixth seed Sam Querrey faltered in the third round to tenacious Lleyton Hewitt 7-5, 3-6, 4-6. Seventh seed Alexandr Dolgopolov continued his shaky season with a third round loss to unseeded Benjamin Becker 6-7(5), 5-7. Ninth seed Benoit Paire, tenth seed Grigor Dimitrov, eleventh seed Julien Benneteau, and twelfth seed Lukas Rosol all fell in straight sets in the second round of the event. Thirteenth seed Jarkko Nieminen fell to British wildcard Daniel Evans in the second round, fighting valiantly but losing 4-6, 7-6(6), 4-6. Fourteenth seed Denis Istomin, fifteenth seed Pablo Andujar, and sixteenth seed Grega Zemlja all fell in straight sets in various rounds. Here are the quarterfinal matchups:

(1)Andy Murray vs Benjamin Becker

After withdrawing from the French Open with a back injury, Murray looks to find form on grass at the AEGON Champs. He has not dropped a set onto the quarterfinals, much unlike his quarterfinal opponent Benjamin Becker. I'm pretty sure Becker has not dropped a service game all week, but he has had to work hard playing 7 sets - four tiebreakers, two 7-5 sets, and one 6-4 set. However, Murray is one of the best returners in the men's game and Murray has all the tennis intangibles on his side. Becker will have to come up with some big serving and something special to upset Murray. Can Murray avoid an upset similar to last year's loss to Nicolas Mahut?

Murray in 2 tight sets

(5)Marin Cilic vs (2)Tomas Berdych

Defending champ Cilic is set to face the big-hitting Czech Berdych. Cilic almost lost in the second round to qualifier, but always dangerous, Feliciano Lopez. Cilic saved a match point before winning, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5. Meanwhile Berdych has looked in scintillating form especially on serve coming off of a disappointing first round upset at the French Open. He has not dropped a set. Berdych looks to continue a 4-1 head-to-head record against Cilic and advance to the semifinals. They have not met on grass, but this match will come down to the winners-unforced errors differential.

Berdych in 3 sets

(4)Jo-Wilfried Tsonga vs Denis Kudla - (4)Tsonga in 3 tight sets

Lleyton Hewitt vs (3)Juan Martin del Potro - (3)del Potro in 3 sets