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Andy Murray Wimbledon 2021
Tennis News

Murray motors past Kyrgios into last eight


Murray eased past Nick Kyrgios 7-5 6-1 6-4 to set a last-eight clash with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Wednesday.

“I was very switched on from the start,” said Murray. “I’m fully aware of how difficult my next opponent is as well. I need to stay focused, take it one match at a time. I know everyone goes, ‘oh that’s boring’, but that’s what you do as a professional. My job’s to try to win my next match, it’s not thinking about anything else.

Murray’s potential fourth-round clash with Kyrgios had been a talking point ever since the draw was made, but it failed to live up to expectations as Murray raced to victory in an hour and 43 minutes.

Kyrgios, who had lost his previous four matches against Murray, had claimed that the grass presented his best opportunity to beat the Scot, but he struggled to make any inroads as the 2013 champion did not face a single break point and lost just 15 points on his serve in the match.

Kyrgios’ serve created some problems for Murray early on as the Australian won 73% of points on his first serve in the opening set, including five aces. However, Murray broke in the final game to snatch the opening set before breaking twice to race through the second set in 26 minutes as Kyrgios’ serving success dropped to 58%.

The third set was more competitive, but an early break put Murray firmly in the driving seat, and although Kyrgios saved two match points on his serve, Murray coolly served it out, sealing victory with his eighth ace of the match.

“Just keep your head down really,” Murray said. “Concentrate on your side of the court.  Control what you can, basically.  You can’t always control what your opponent’s doing or how your opponent’s playing.

“But you can apply yourself to every single point and fight for every point. Don’t give up any cheap games or anything like that. I did a good job of that today.  I don’t think I gave up a breakpoint.  I was solid on my serve.  I created a little chance end of the first set. After that, in the second set especially, I just tried to make as many balls as possible.”

Next up for Murray is Frenchman Tsonga, who progressed after fellow Frenchman Richard Gasquet retired in the first set with a back injury.

Murray and Tsonga have met twice at Wimbledon before, in the 2010 quarter-finals and in the last four in 2012, with Murray winning on both occasions.


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.