Murray through after opponent retires
Andy Murray has previously never gone beyond the third round at the French Open
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Friday, 29, May 2009 10:29
Andy Murray has reached the fourth round of the French Open for the first time after opponent Janko Tipsarevic retired hurt.
Britain's number one was leading 7-6 (7/3) 6-3 when the Serb quit due to a thigh injury. Murray will clash with 13th seed Marin Cilic in the
next round.
And the 22-year-old will be relieved to book his place in the last 16 after struggling early on in Paris.
The Dunblane teenager was broken in game five when he sliced a backhand into the net. He then squandered two break points in the next game to trail 5-2.
Tipsarevic added to Murray's misery by breaking in game seven and looked on course to take the opening set.
But Murray showed his resilience by winning the next two games to trail 4-5. He then saved two set points before breaking to level the scores.
In the eventual tie-break, Murray went 5-3 up and after Tipsarevic sent a backhand wide before capitalising on his first set point.
The world number three continued his momentum into the second set with an early break before Tipsarevic received treatment on his left thigh.
The Serb played on and managed to break back to level at 1-1. But his injury continued to hamper him, and he was soon broken again.
Tipsarevic, 24, was grimacing at the end of each rally as Murray capitalised on his opponent's injury to move 4-2 up.
The Briton eventually clinched the second set, which led to Tipsarevic calling it a day.
Elsewhere, reigning champion Rafael Nadal booked his place in the last 16 after cruising past Lleyton Hewitt 6-1 6-3 6-1.
The four-time winner at Roland Garros lost just five games in seeing off the former world number one.
Nadal has now won 32 consecutive sets at the French Open and only Bjorn Borg (41) stands between him and the record.