With Blake struggling to live up to the role as the favourite, the young German, ranked 144th in the world, refused to get beaten. There was not much between the two players in Beck´s first match on a big Centre Court.

The 22-year-old saved no less than seven match points before Blake fired an ace on his second serve to book his ticket into the semi-finals. “He really did well on the match points,” Blake praised. “A lot of the young players start to panic but he did not. This game will help him a lot in the future.” Blake also praised Beck´s serve. “He served really well early doors. I started to worry.”
It was an exciting match throughout, with Blake eager to erase the memories of last year´s elimination in the quarter-finals. There were no breaks in the first set. Blake relied on his experience to win the tiebreak following a 5-2 lead. Then the roof was opened again, and both men raised their games.

The match seemed to be decided when Blake went up 4-2 but, with his back against the wall, Beck made the most of Blake´s weak backhand and gained the immediate rebreak. He lost his serve straight away but did the same trick again.

After saving two match points at 4-5, the roof was closed due to rain. But the interruption could not break Beck´s rhythm: 5-5. Down 5-6 he then saved three further match points. 
Experience eventually was the key in the tiebreak. “Some years ago I would have lost the second set,” Blake set. “But I don´t get mad when I blow a lead. It happens.”