PARIS, June 5, 2017
World No. 1 Andy Murray recorded a milestone 650th Tour-level match-win and has earned a place in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the seventh time. The 30-year-old Briton beat 21-year-old Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Court Phillipe-Chatrier.
Murray sent down five aces, winning 65 per cent of his first service points. He hit 24 winners to secure victory in two hours and four minutes.
Top seed @andy_murray fended off rising star Khachanov (and a barrage of blistering groundstrokes) to reach the QFs for 7th time.
🎥 #RG17 pic.twitter.com/m66tTAoZsT
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) 5. Juni 2017
“I think today was probably the best I have played overall. It was difficult conditions. It was pretty windy out there. Wasn’t easy. 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,” Murray was pleased afterwards. He is the 15th player in ATP World Tour history to reach 650 victories or more.
The Scot was also asked about the terror attacks in Great Britain and told:
“Obviously it’s a terrible tragedy in London, and Manchester six or seven days ago. I’m sure everyone will join me in sharing our thoughts and prayers with everyone who has been impacted by this.”
Murray will next take on Kei Nishikori, who put on a superb fight-back after a nightmare first set to beat Spaniard Fernando Verdasco 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0.
Wawrinka To Face Cilic
2015 Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka defeated local favourite Gael Monfils on Court Phillipe-Chatrier 7-5, 7-6, 6-2.
The third seed from Switzerland hit 35 winners and broke serve five times to prevail in two hours and 43 minutes.
“I think it was a tough match, tough conditions, quite windy, a lot of tension, because we know each other so well. So was important to stay there, to stay strong with myself, and I’m happy to get through this match,” the 32-year-old Swiss told after he had advanced to the stage of the final eight in Paris for the fourth time.
“I was expecting a lot of support for Gaël . They love him here. He’s playing at home, so it’s normal. I was also quite surprised, it was really good crowd today. I think they were really fair on the court. I think the atmosphere was great to play, so I’m happy with everything.”
Suffering a left thigh injury, South Africa’s Kevin Anderson retired from his fourth round match against seventh seed Marin Cilic of Croatia. Anderson was trailing 6-3, 3-0 when he retired. Cilic will next play Wawrinka.
