Murray continues dream run
Andy Murray had previously never gone beyond the third round in Paris
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Sunday, 31, May 2009 08:57
Andy Murray is through to the French Open quarter-finals after beating Marin Cilic 7-5 7-6 (7/4) 6-1.
Britain's number one continued his best-ever run at Roland Garros, to set-up a showdown with Fernando Gonzalez in the last eight.
And the 22-year-old will be confident of continuing his progress in Paris after a battling display against 13th seed Cilic, who did not drop a set in the previous three rounds.
The first set was a war of attrition with both players looking strong on their serve. Murray made the breakthrough in game 11 when he made a booming crosscourt return to set-up two break points.
He needed just one as Cilic over-hit a backhand to hand Murray the break, before the Scot served out the set.
The Dunblane teenager took his momentum into the second set with an early break in game three after a stunning crosscourt winner.
Murray continued to look solid on his own serve but lost his concentration in game eight as Cilic pulled level. The world number three netted after two marathon rallies to lose his serve for the first time in the match.
In the eventual tie-break, Murray reeled off four straight points to set up set point. Cilic, 20, saved two of them but then sent a forehand wide to give Murray a 2-0 lead.
Cilic blew the chance to break Murray in the opening game of the third set, and from then on capitulated.
Murray broke twice to race to a 4-0 lead. Cilic showed some fight by breaking back, but the Briton responded with a break of his own after more erratic forehands from his opponent.
Serving for the set, Murray sealed victory when Cilic sent another forehand long to earn him a place in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the first time.