WATCH: Andy Murray rolls back the years on way to biggest win of 2021
Andy Murray has registered back-to-back top 10 wins for the first time in five years by ousting the top seed in Stockholm.
The former world number one took on Jannik Sinner for a place in the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 event.
Murray had previously defeated Norwegian qualifier Viktor Durasovic in the first round. Sinner was playing his first match at the event against the Brit after receiving a first round bye.
Both men served well in the opening set, with Murray facing the only break point chance.
The play was high quality, including this cat-and-mouse rally eventually won by the Brit.
Off to a START 🔥@andy_murray #StockholmOpen pic.twitter.com/ZMx25tvQ4O
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) November 10, 2021
The set went to a tiebreak, with the pair trading five mini-breaks before Murray sealed it 7-4.
Murray later clinched a break early in the second set to drive home his advantage in the match.
He then secured the win with another break for 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 after two hours and 15 minutes on-court.
As a result, Murray has now won back-to-back matches against top10 opponents for the first time since his 2016 ATP Finals triumph.
The Brit won five top 10 matches consecutively at that event to claim that ATP Finals title.
In 2021, the 34-year-old defeated Hubert Hurkacz in October at the Vienna Open when the Pole was ranked 10th. Sinner is now ranked 10th, and was also the top seed in Stockholm.
Murray will face world number 52 Tommy Paul next. The American defeated compatriot Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4 to reach the last eight in the Swedish capital.
Murray and Paul have never met on the ATP tour previously.
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