Unstoppable Murray marches into quarter-finals by swatting aside Youzhny... next up is Verdasco in bid for Wimbledon semis
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Andy Murray moved into the quarter-finals with a 6-4, 7-6, 6-1 win over Russian Mikhail Youzhny to progress his Wimbledon dream.
After stepping on to Centre Court under a mixture of sun and cloud just minutes after Serena Williams had fallen in the latest shock of these unpredictable Championships, the British No 1 was never in serious threat despite a wobble.
A break of serve in the third game of the match was enough to give him the first set. But the second set was an altogether more see-saw affair. Murray broke to go 2-1 ahead with a wonderful cross-court forehand winner but was himself broken twice to be 5-3 down.
Through: Andy Murray beat Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets on Centre Court to move into the quarter-finals
Test: Murray needed over two and a half hours to see off a determined effort from the Russian
NEXT UP...
Andy Murray will play Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.
The Spaniard beat Kenny de Schepper 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 on Court 3 on Monday.
The home favourite looked ruffled but refused to yield and forced a tie-break, which was hardly straight-forward. He found himself 5-3 down before the most deft of drop shots turned the tide. He won the tie break 7-5.
Youzhny, an impressive grass court player and an experienced campaigner at 31, received treatment for a shoulder injury before the start of the third set. Murray then broke Youzhny in the second game, while his own serve looked increasingly hard to deal with. The rest was a formality.
Murray now plays unseeded Spaniard Fernando Verdasco, who lost only one service game in beating Kenny de Schepper 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
It is a measure of Murray’s serene advancement that he has won all 12 of the sets he has played during Wimbledon.
The atmosphere was flat and so was the match in its early stages, with neither player finding their best form in the first set, although Murray secured the only break of serve in the third game.
It was all a struggle, though, and that continued in the second set, with Youzhny clawing his way back from 40-0 to deuce on Murray's serve in the second game.
Tricky: Murray came from a break down in the second set to win it in a tie-break and take a 2-0 lead
Breeze: The British No 1 sealed the third set 6-1 as he marched into the last eight
Having come through that, Murray played two of his best shots of the match, a half-volley drop shot and pinpoint lob, to force a break point in the following game and then topped them both with a scrambling forehand pass.
But he could not cement it as Youzhny forced two break-back points, taking the second when Murray netted a forehand, the Scot slamming his racket into his shoe.
The situation was to get worse, as a few minutes later Murray double-faulted to hand Youzhny a second successive break and a 4-2 lead.
There was a nervousness around Centre Court, which only increased when Youzhny recovered from 0-30 to win a fourth game in a row.
Business end: Murray will play Fernando Verdasco in the quarter-finals on Wednesday
Niggle: Youzhny needed attention from the trainer before the start of the third set
Murray stopped the rot by holding, and with Youzhny serving for the set he got the crowd going with a brilliant forehand down the line on the stretch.
Two break points disappeared but a third arrived and this time Murray took it with a blistering cross-court backhand, geeing the crowd up as he ran back to his chair.
The 26-year-old had a chance to break for 6-5 but Youzhny landed a forehand right in the corner to hang on.
Murray was grabbing at his hip, perhaps a sign that his troublesome back was playing up, but he hammered down an ace to force a tie-break.
Support: Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears
Guest: Ian Poulter in the royal box
Murray mania: British fans were out in force on Centre Court to cheer Murray on
It was tense, and a tame double fault from Murray to trail 4-2 did not help, but he retrieved the mini-break with a precision drop shot, skipping into the air as he willed it over the net.
A forehand wide from Youzhny gave Murray his first set point, which he took in style with a stunning backhand return. The crowd roared and Murray yelled and punched the air.
Youzhny took a medical timeout before the start of the third set for treatment to his right shoulder, and immediately threatened the Murray serve once more.
There was confusion all round as Murray made a late decision to play a ball he thought was out, appealing to the line judge and umpire in vain.
Partisan: Spectators gathered on a packed Henman Hill to watch Murray's win
That brought up a second break point but the Scot saved it with an ace and then took advantage of a poor game from his opponent to break to love for a 2-0 lead.
Youzhny's threat had passed, and another break gave Murray a 5-1 advantage and the chance to serve for it.
He set up a first match point with a sizzling forehand winner and put away a volley to clinch victory after two hours and 37 minutes.
P.S.
Murray's march into the quarter-finals has been flawless. The Scot is yet to drop a set in the tournament.
There is one place Murray can improve, though. He has made 15 challenges via hawk-eye so far this fortnight but has been successful just the once.
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