MURRAY ON THE MARCH
TENNIS: FRENCH OPEN Andy getting better every day BEAST CAN BEAT THE BEST
® from IAIN STEWART in Paris
ANDY MURRAY insists he is getting better with every game after setting up a quarter-final clash with Kei Nishikori.
The Scot confirmed his injury woes are behind him as he took just 2 hours 4 minutes to see off Karen Khachanov 6-3 6-4 6-4.
It was Murray’s 650th Tour-level victory and ensured the world No.1 reached the last eight in Paris for a seventh time.
After easing past his 21-year-old opponent, Murray says he is now ready for the business end of the tournament.
He said: “I think today was probably the best I have played overall. It was difficult conditions, pretty windy out there. It wasn’t easy.
Middle
“But each match I feel like I played better. I have hit the ball cleaner and started to see the right shots at the right moments.
“I have come a long way in the last 10 days or so. I said after the last match that what’s important is what you’re thinking right before the following point. Just now I’m quite clear with what I’m doing.
“That’s been good the last few matches and I’m happy with where my game’s at.
“Everything is going pretty well just now. Yeah, I’m feeling good going into the middle part of the second week.”
Eighth-seed Nishikori stands between Murray and a semi-final spot tomorrow, but seven-time Grand Slam champion John McEnroe believes the draw favours the Brit’s bid for glory in Sunday’s final.
Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal are battling through the other half of the draw and McEnroe said: “I think Andy’s been great.
“The draw looked fairly tough in the beginning but now you would have to say you would be somewhat surprised if he didn’t get at least to the semis, if not the final.
“The top four guys will probably be in the semi-finals. It’s certainly nice to see Rafa back – these conditions, balls kicking up pretty high, it’s pretty rough out there.”
Murray’s older brother Jamie and Brazilian partner Bruno Soares lost to Santiago Gonzalez of Mexico and American Donald Young 3-6 7-6 7-6 in the men’s doubles.