Muller firms as Wimbledon dark horse

Gilles Muller plays the game with a throwback quality that’s apparently still very much suited to grasscourt tennis.

The serve-and-volleying lefty from Luxembourg on Friday got past Sam Querrey 6-4 7-6(5) to take his place in the semifinals at Queen’s Club, a week after winning the title in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

The world No.26 will attempt to reach his second straight final on grass when he meets No.4 seed Marin Cilic, a 6-4 7-5 winner over Donald Young.

But can this form translate to Wimbledon?

“I’m not thinking about Wimbledon right now. It’s still too far away,” Muller said.

“It’s too big of a chance to play a good tournament here to think about other things. I’m going to play semifinals here for the first time tomorrow. I lost in the quarters the last two years.

“I’m really happy I was able to go one step further. Now that you’re so close, you want to go all the way. Tomorrow is going to be a tough match, but I’m looking forward to it.”

In nine previous appearances in the main draw at the All England Club, Muller has advanced beyond the second round just twice – and both of those years (2005, 2011) he fell in the last 32.

For a player with his fearsome lefty serve, exquisite net skills and relentless athleticism – not unlike Feliciano Lopez, who is a three-time Wimbledon quarterfinalist – a deep run at SW19 should not be beyond him.

Yet since first appearing there in 2005 and stunning reigning Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal en route to the third round, significant success on Wimbledon’s lawns has eluded him.

It’s somewhat surprising, given Muller can clearly play on the stuff – in addition to his title last week, he was a ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Newport finalist last year.

Yet perhaps what’s different this season is that a huge weight has been lifted off his shoulders. Until his first ATP title in Sydney this year, he’d gone 0-6 in finals.

That relief may explain why his second title (‘s-Hertogenbosch) followed less than six months later.

And with this current streak of grasscourt victories under his belt, the 34-year-old must be feeling confident.

“It’s true that I’m one of the older guys on tour, but I’m having my best time this year,” he admitted. “I’ve been injury-free the past few years and able to play a full schedule, so that has helped me a lot.”