French Open: Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka Charge Into Quarterfinals
Scot world No 1 brushed aside Karen Khachanov's challenge while 2015 Roland Garros champion from Switzerland defeated Gael Monfils to reach the last-eight stage.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 05, 2017 10:19 pm IST
Highlights
-
Murray and Wawrinka won in straight sets
-
This is Murray's 7th quarterfinal showing in Paris
-
Women's 2014 runner-up Simona Halep reached the quarters
Andy Murray racked up his 650th career win to reach the French Open quarterfinals on Monday where he was joined by 2015 champion Stan Wawrinka. World No 1 Murray, the runner-up in Paris to Novak Djokovic in 2016, brushed aside Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. However, instead of discussing the match in the traditional on-court TV interview, Murray took the microphone to remember the 29 people who died in the recent outrages in London and Manchester.
"Obviously there was terrible tragedy in London and Manchester. Paris has had its problems too in recent years," said Andy Murray. "I am sure everyone will join me... we share our thoughts and prayers with everyone who has been affected. I appreciate everyone still coming out to support the tennis. I am grateful that I can still perform in front of everyone."
Murray broke the serve of the 21-year-old Russian, playing in a Slam fourth round for the first time, on five occasions. Before Monday, Khachanov had held serve for 48 successive service games.
In his seventh Paris quarter-final, Murray will face Japanese eighth seed Kei Nishikori who defeated 33-year-old Fernando Verdasco of Spain 0-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-0. Nishikori, a beaten quarter-finalist in Paris in 2015, has now made the last eight of a Slam for a seventh time, a record for a Japanese man.
Wawrinka, the third seed, booked a place in the quarter-finals for the fourth time with a comfortable 7-5, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2 win over Gael Monfils, the last French player in the men's draw.
Marin Cilic completed the quarter-final line-up when South Africa's Kevin Anderson retired with a thigh injury trailing 6-3, 3-0. It is Cilic's first Roland Garros last-eight spot while he is the first Croatian to get this far since Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic in 2006.
Women's title favourite and 2014 runner-up Simona Halep trounced Spain's Carla Suarez-Navarro 6-1, 6-1 to make the last eight without dropping a set or breaking sweat. Third seed Halep, who can become the new world No 1 if she wins the title, claimed her first win on clay in six attempts against the Spaniard.
The 25-year-old Halep will tackle Ukraine's fifth seed Elina Svitolina for a semi-final place. The two met in the Rome final on the eve of Roland Garros when Halep was beaten and suffered an ankle injury which threatened her appearance in Paris.
Svitolina reached the quarter-finals for the second time, ending the dream run of world No 290 Petra Martic with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win. However, Martic, bidding to become only the 10th qualifier to make the last eight in Paris threw away a golden chance for victory. The 26-year-old led 5-2 in the final set before Svitolina rallied to race away with the last five games.