• Wimbledon

Murray: Nadal defeat 'pretty irrelevant' to me

Andy Murray has warned fans that Rafael Nadal's shock exit from Wimbledon is "pretty irrelevant" to his chances of finally winning the event.

Murray, who eased into the second round at the All England Club on Monday, was on course to face either Nadal or Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the tournament later next week - until the Spaniard was surprisingly ousted by world No. 135 Steve Darcis out on Court One on Monday.

Nadal's defeat would appear to open up Murray's route to a second final at SW19, but the Scot was quick to note that he has to win another four matches before he gets to the stage where he would have potentially faced the eight-time French Open champion.

However, he acknowledged that the result was one few could have predicted.

"It's pretty irrelevant right now," Murray said. "I'm sure for you guys it's very relevant, but for the players, especially me, I have to win at least four more matches before that would even become something I would think about.

"It's obviously surprising. But the consistency that Rafa, Roger and Novak [Djokovic] have shown in the slams over the last five or six years, it's going to be almost impossible to keep that up forever.

"I didn't see any of the match because I was playing. But, yeah, it's a surprising loss."

While disappointed for Nadal on a personal level, Murray said he was not at all preoccupied with how his rivals were faring during a grand slam event.

"As a fan of tennis, it's probably disappointing that he's out because he's a fun guy to watch, and he brings a lot to the tournaments that he plays in," said Murray. "He's one of the best players that's ever played, so it's a shame in that respect.

"But I'm not here to worry about all of the other players just now. I have to focus on myself, my matches, try to take care of them one at a time."

The Spaniard, meanwhile, refused to blame fitness for his loss - despite appearing to be struggling with his knees once again at points during his match with Darcis.

"It is not the right day [to talk about it]," Nadal said, when asked specifically if he was carrying an injury. "I tried my best out there in every moment. The opponent played well, I had my chances. I didn't make it.

"The only thing that I can say today is to congratulate Steve Darcis. He played a fantastic match. Everything that I will say today about my knee is an excuse, and I don't like to put [forward] any excuse when I'm losing a match like I lost today.

"He deserves not one excuse."

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