By Chris Oddo | Saturday July 2, 2016

 

Milos Raonic and Andy Roddick contemplated a Wimbledon draw without Novak Djokovic on Saturday after their respective victories.

Photo Source: Julian Finney/Getty

Wimbledon, England—Novak Djokovic rushed to his post-match press conference with reporters just 20 minutes after his shock upset at the hands of Sam Querrey on Saturday because he wanted to be done talking about it as quickly as possible.

More: Querrey Ends Djokovic's Calendar Slam Hopes at Wimbledon

As the Serb departs the hallowed grounds of the All England Club one gets the sense that the rest of the men’s singles field is going to be talking about it for the next few days.

“Nothing really changed,” said a measured Milos Raonic after his straight-sets victory over American Jack Sock on Centre Court, which happened a few hours after Djokovic’s loss. “It was obviously a surprise. You know where you stand with that, so you push a little harder.”

Raonic, one of a cluster of grass aficionados here at Wimbledon who stands to benefit the most from the departure of the juggernaut Djokovic, has been emerging as a threat at this event ever since reaching his first Grand Slam semifinal here in 2014. Two years on, he’s even more lethal, but his chances to win this tournament were hardly given any consideration because of his 0-7 record against Djokovic and the fact that he was projected to fact the World No. 1 in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon.

Not anymore.

Does the tournament feel different without Djokovic? Raonic was asked late Saturday at his post-match press conference.

“Probably it will, but not significantly,” he said. “You still have great champions that are in the tournament. You have Andy [Murray] that's won this tournament. You have Roger [Federer] that's won it I believe seven or eight times, seven times, been here in the finals ten times. There's these marquee players that are still there.

“At the end of the day, no player is bigger than the tournament. The tournament goes on. There's people fighting to make a difference for themselves.”

Raonic saved all three break points he faced to steamroll Sock on Centre Court, controlling the terms of the match by winning 65 of 75 first-serve points.

“I stepped up when I needed to,” he said. “There wasn't a lot of pretty tennis out there, some hesitation, too passive. But I got it done, and I got it done in three sets. That makes a difference down the road.”

Earlier in the day Andy Murray reached the fourth-round with a breezy 6-3 7-5, 6-2 win over Aussie John Millman. Murray has won all nine sets he played at Wimbledon and has only dropped more than three games in a stanza twice. The second seed downplayed the significance of Djokovic’s loss by pointing out that he was not slated to face Djokovic until the final.

“If I was to reach the final, then it may have some bearing really, but it doesn't right now,” Murray said. “My draw's still exactly the same. The matches, in the next round especially, are tough.”

Murray broke Millman six times on 13 opportunities to hold sway over proceedings on Saturday. The victory improves his lifetime record at Wimbledon to 49-9. Whether Djokovic had lost or not, Murray knows his primary concern is getting ready for his next match on Monday. He’ll face either Nick Kyrgios or Feliciano Lopez. The pair had their third-round tussle suspended due to darkness on Saturday tied at a set apiece.

“Nick and Feli are both very, very good grass court players.” Said Murray. “Tricky whoever it is.”

For Murray the ultimate trick would be to get overexcited about Djokovic’s departure from the draw and end up making a mess of a golden opportunity to win a second Wimbledon title. That’s something the 29-year-old is clearly eager to defend against.

“You know, your job is to go out there and try to win the matches that are there in front of you,” he said. “That's what I'll try and do.”