Murray Lifts His Game To Advance; Lopez Back From Two Down

© Getty ImagesAndy Murray will contest the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the fourth time.

Under the watchful eyes of His Royal Highness The Duke and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge, home favourite Andy Murray advanced to the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the fourth year in a row as he dismissed Richard Gasquet 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-2.

World No. 4 Murray hit 44 winners and broke serve three times to defeat Gasquet in just over two hours, avoiding a repeat of the five-set marathon they contested at the All England Club in 2008, when Murray won from two sets down.

"The second and third sets were much better," assessed Murray. "First set I returned poorly, so I wasn't able to get into any of his service games at all. I definitely didn't get to deuce. I had no breakpoints in the first set, but managed to string a few good points together in the tie-break. I served well throughout, which helped."

Gasquet reflected, "[The tie-break] was very important. The first set we played almost one hour. I had some opportunities to win the first set, but he served very well, especially in the second set. I tried to keep my serve, but he played well." 

The 24-year-old Murray is on an eight-match winning streak, having won the AEGON Championships title in the lead-up to Wimbledon. The Scot is bidding to become the first British male singles winner at The Championships since Fred Perry triumphed in 1936. He has lost out in three major finals, most recently against Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open in January.

For a place in his third consecutive semi-final at Wimbledon, Murray will face Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, who saved two match points as he fought back to defeat Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot 3-6, 6-7(5), 7-6(7), 7-5, 7-5. Murray leads Lopez 4-0 in their career meetings, this will be their first grass-court contest.

World No. 44 Lopez trailed 5-6 and 6-7 in the third-set tie-break, before battling back to clinch victory by breaking Kubot in the final game of the match after four hours and 18 minutes. It was the third time in his career that the Madrid native has recovered from a two-set deficit to win.

“To be honest, [it] was so difficult for me to come back because he was playing unbelievable. [He was hitting] winners from all over the court, serving, returning, great volleys. I didn't know what to do to change the way of the match, to be honest. In the tie-break in the third set, I was still fighting there. Little bit lucky I came back with the match point with this passing shot. Then I won the third set and I had more hopes that I could win the match.”

The 29-year-old Lopez, who upset three-time finalist Andy Roddick in the third round, is through to the Wimbledon quarter-finals for the third time; he lost at this stage in 2005 (l. to Hewitt) and 2008 (l. to Safin).

“I know that if I want to beat Andy here, I have to play good,” said Lopez. “But I have had a couple of good wins during this tournament.  I beat Andy Roddick. I have a great comeback today after two sets to love. I have to believe that I can win.  I know that I have to play good if I want to beat Andy.  But I'm ready for the battle.”

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