Murray books quarters spot

 

Originally published on: 26/02/10 12:31

Cilic, the 13th seed, came into the match having not lost a set all tournament but third seed Murray was in a different league to the Croat’s previous opponents, posting a solid 7-5 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 victory in two hours and 31 minutes on Suzanne Lenglen court.

The Scot is only the third Briton to have made the last eight in the Open era, after Roger Taylor and Tim Henman, and he has now won four straight matches on clay for the first time.

Murray grabbed what proved to be the decisive break in the 11th game of the opening set – at the second time of asking – when Cilic went long with a backhand and when, serving 6-5 ahead, Murray earned two set points and took the second with an unreturnable serve.

Murray broke first in the second set too, showing familiar battling qualities as he got to a Cilic backhand and returned with interest, his opponent failing to make the volley at the net.

Murray looked well in control when 4-2 ahead but was broken in game eight after hooking a backhand wide at the end of a long rally.

Murray wasted break points in games nine and 11, and served to stay in the set twice to force a tie-break.

He claimed the early mini-break and shot 6-2 ahead. Cilic came back to 6-4, but on the Scot’s third set point, the Croat went wide with a forehand and Murray was on the brink of the quarter-finals.

He broke in the second game of the third set and after Murray had gone 3-0 up, Cilic sent for the trainer, who applied treatment on the player’s left thigh.

Cilic had injured that thigh running back in a vain attempt to retrieve a Murray lob. Murray would later be broken but he had no problems clinching the match, at the second time of asking.

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