FORMULA WIN
Murray says it’s all going according to plan as he hits top gear at perfect time and makes quarters yet again
ANDY MURRAY’S beaten opponent yesterday dismissed fitness fears over the world No.1, who he reckoned ran “like a rabbit” into his 10th consecutive Wimbledon quarter-final.
Benoit Paire mixed delicate drop shots with his booming backhand to give the defending champion and his hip another testing workout.
And despite continuing to limp and shuffle between points like he was walking in water, the Scot was on fire against the combustible Frenchman during play – then claimed he was getting back to his best.
“I think he has no problem,” said Paire. “Look at him. The problem isn’t between the points. The match is during the point. During the point you didn’t see any problem.
“He can run like a rabbit. I think he can win Wimbledon. He hasn’t a lot of confidence but he’s 100 per cent on court. He’s No.1. I’m sure he can win the tournament.”
And the belief is also growing in Murray after becoming only the third man – after Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer – to record a 10th last-eight appearance in a row at the same Grand Slam.
On Friday night he struggled against Fabio Fognini. But after winning 7-6 6-4 6-4 in two hours and 21 minutes yesterday, he reported: “I’m moving well. I didn’t feel like I moved that well against Fabio. But the first two matches and today, I felt like I moved really well.
“Like I said at the beginning of the tournament, I’ll be able to get through seven matches if that’s what I have to do.
“Obviously I want to try to get to the final, and I’ve done a good job so far here.
“Today was by far the best I hit the ball, the cleanest I hit the ball. I was happy about that.
“The last couple of days, practice has been really good as well. I didn’t feel great during my last match. I didn’t feel like I played so well, not loads of rhythm in the first two matches. “I definitely felt better today. That’s positive moving into the last few days of the tournament. Hopefully in a couple of days I’ll feel better again. Hopefully I’ll keep it up.” Paire struts around the court like Eric Cantona but after he was thrown out of the Olympics last year and banned for six months, France Davis Cup coach Yannick Noah compared his attitude to Samir Nasri. And he certainly has the talent to fit into a long line of French mavericks – and the flakiness to match.
Paire started superbly and led 4-2 in the first set before winning only one point in the tiebreak.
Murray won this match by being more consistent, making only eight unforced errors to the 44 by his erratic rival.
It is why Murray has won 26 consecutive matches against French opposition – and 28 in Grand Slams since losing to JoWilfried Tsonga in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open.
Paire is the opposite of Murray – flash shots but no results. The hipster, who said he will now shave off his lucky beard, at least left Wimbledon without any fines for bad behaviour.
Murray had the biggest row with umpire Mohamed Lahyani yesterday after the Swede denied him a challenge in the third set.
“Normally when I see my prize money, it’s a little bit less than I saw on the paper,” Paire joked.
“Now I’m really happy. I can have a drink tonight.”