Centre stage is not mine as of right – Murray

The placing of the Scot’s fourth-round match against Croatia’s Marin Cilic on Court One, despite a poor weather forecast, provoked accusations that Wimbledon were hindering the prospects of the home favourite.

And as expected Murray was unable to finish his match on Monday, although he showed few ill effects from the delay when they returned yesterday afternoon, winning 7-5 6-2 6-3 despite further rain showers to set up a quarter-final against David Ferrer.

The fourth seed said: “All of the players would say they would rather play on Centre because they know they’re going to finish their match.

“I don’t deserve to play all my matches on Centre Court. Someone like Roger (Federer) does.”

Federer is a six-time champion, and he and defending champion Novak Djokovic were on Centre on Monday.

“It’s not a bad thing playing on the outside courts,” Murray said. “It’s just when the conditions are bad it’s not ideal to be out there because matches can last for two or three days, and then you get a backlog.

“But I don’t think just because you’re from the home country you should necessarily get preferential treatment, but I hope that I play my next few matches on Centre.”

Murray faces the prospect of playing five days out of seven if he is to reach the final, but the consolation for the Scot is that all the other players in his half of the draw are in the same boat.

He said: “It’s not just me. There’s lots of guys in exactly the same position. Anyone will tell you if you play four matches in eight days, it’s better than playing four matches in five or six days.

“The more rest you can get the better, but it’s part of playing grand slam tennis.

“Often it’s happened to me in the past at the US Open where there’s been a backlog of matches. It’s not going to be the only time it happens here either.”

There was also some confusion on Monday night with rumours Murray’s match might be moved to Centre to be completed under the roof.

Tournament organisers are always reluctant to move matches when they have already started, and Murray insisted that was never on the cards anyway.

He said: “It wouldn’t have made sense to move my match. I thought maybe the Florian Mayer/Richard Gasquet match (could have been moved) to try to finish all the matches from the top half.”

Murray had begun nervously on Monday against 16th seed Cilic but gradually grew into the match, coming from a break down to win the opening set and then moving a break ahead to lead 7-5 3-1 when the rain arrived.

He looked confident from the start yesterday, hitting the ball extremely cleanly off both wings and serving especially well.

Murray had to save four break points at the start of the third set, all with big serves, before seizing his chance in the fourth game and confidently serving out victory.

Cilic approached the match on an eight-match winning streak on grass after lifting the AEGON Championship title at Queen’s Club, but he had played for five-and-a-half hours in beating Sam Querrey on Saturday night and had no answer to Murray.

The Scot, who is through to the quarter-finals for a fifth straight year here and for a seventh successive grand slam, felt he had handled the difficult circumstances of the match well.

He said: “It’s tough. In matches you can build momentum and build leads, and then when you stop, once you come back out again, you feel like you’re starting off from square one.

“But I did well (yesterday). He started the third set well. He had a few chances. I came up with some big serves. I served very well in the third set especially.”

Murray may well have expected to face big-hitting Juan Martin del Potro in the quarter-finals but Ferrer was simply too strong for the Argentinian yesterday, winning in straight sets to reach the last eight at the All England Club for the first time.

The Spaniard and Murray have faced each other 10 times and have managed five wins each, although four of Ferrer’s have come on his favoured clay, including a victory at the same stage of the French Open a month ago.

They have never met on grass before, and the fast surface should suit Murray better, but seventh seed Ferrer is having his best season and won the warm-up tournament in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

“I’d rather not play him on a clay court because it’s a surface that I’ve struggled against him on,” said Murray.

“But on the other surfaces I’ve played some good matches against him. Tough matches, but good.

“I’ve won against him a few times. Hopefully I can do the same (today).”

Ferrer installed Murray as favourite to win their quarter-final but believes the weight of expectation behind the Scot could hamper the home hope.

Spanish seventh seed Ferrer booked his place in the last eight under the roof on Centre Court as he dominated against the ninth seed Del Potro, who was briefly treated on court with a knee problem, to win 6-3 6-2 6-3.

Ferrer and Murray have never faced each other on grass and the Spaniard suspects the pressure placed on the Scot could be a telling factor.

“Of course it is a very important match because it is the quarter-final of Wimbledon but I will try to focus on every point,” said Ferrer. “I don’t want to think about the people, about the expectation around this match.

“Maybe he has more pressure than me because he plays at home with your people.

“He’s the favourite player (to win) because he’s better than me, and (today) I will try to do my best. I will have to play my best tennis to beat him.”

More Wimbledon: Page 23.