Wimbledon 2017: Andy Murray hits out at the condition of Centre Court
The state of the courts has been criticised by several players, with Kristina Mladenovic branding Court 18 dangerous
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Your support makes all the difference.Andy Murray criticised the state of the Wimbledon courts after surviving a rollercoaster encounter against Fabio Fognini.
The defending champion had breezed through his opening two matches but found his future in the tournament under serious threat amid a deafening atmosphere on Centre Court.
Fognini is a fiery character and was docked a point for obscene behaviour but had five chances to force a deciding set before Murray fought back to win 6-2 4-6 6-1 7-5.
The world number one now has two days to recover before facing Frenchman Benoit Paire on Monday.
The state of the courts has been criticised by several players, with Kristina Mladenovic branding Court 18 dangerous after her loss on Thursday.
Murray did not go that far but believes there is a clear difference from previous years - something denied by the All England Club.
He said: “The court I don't think is in as good a condition as previous years. There's quite a few spots on the court, just behind the baseline and just in front of the baseline, where there's quite big lumps of grass, almost like little divots there, which I don't remember really being the case.
“I don't know if it's anything to do with the weather that they've had over the last few weeks and months. It's been pretty hot, pretty extreme conditions. Not much rain.
“But the court, when I played the first match, was great. I think it's just getting a bit beaten up early. A few of the players have said that about some of the outside courts, as well.
“There's also been a lot of tennis played on the outside courts because there's been no rain.”
Fognini was much stronger in his criticism. The Italian took a medical time-out during the third set to have his right ankle and foot taped because he was concerned about aggravating heel and Achilles tendon problems.
He said: “I think the courts this year are really, really bad. But they do the best that they can. It's not their fault. I think this year was really sunny days, so the grass is not really good like the last years.”
PA
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