Wimbledon 2013: Andy Murray enters 6th consecutive quarter-final
The No. 2-seeded Murray is trying to become the first British man since Fred Perry in 1936 to win the title at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: July 02, 2013 10:23 am IST
British second seed Andy Murray survived a second set wobble to carve out a 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 win over Russian 20th seed Mikhail Youzhny to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday.
Murray, the runner-up to Roger Federer in 2012, will face Spain's Fernando Verdasco for a place in the semi-finals.
The Scot has an 8-1 winning record over unseeded Verdasco, a former top-10 player.
Murray had to battle back from 2-5 down in the second set to quell the threat posed by Youzhny who needed treatment on a shoulder injury after one game of the third set.
Murray put in an impressive serving performance, firing 15 aces and hitting 45 winners past the experienced Russian.
"It was a tough match, the first couple of sets especially. He also had a few chances at the beginning of the third set as well but once I got ahead in the third I concentrated very hard not to let him back in like I did in the second set," said Murray.
Despite closing in on another final, Murray said he could not become complacent after the shock early exits of Federer and Rafael Nadal.
"I don't take anything for granted. I know how hard these tournaments are to win and to do well in. So I don't expect to come into these sort of events to win them," said the US Open and Olympic champion.
"There's no guarantees here at all. I just concentrate on each match. Serena Williams lost and she doesn't lose particularly often.
"Roger's lost and Rafa's lost. All these guys and girls are better players than me and have achieved a lot more than me and so if they can lose so can I and I just concentrate on the next one and try and get through it."
Verdasco will pose a different challenge with Murray not having faced a left-hander in 2013.
"He's played very well this tournament he's had some good wins against some solid players. He's a very talented player," said Murray.
"I haven't played a lefty this whole year amazingly. I need to return some lefty serves and hope for the best."
Verdasco is now at 54 in the world having once been as high as nine in 2009.
The 29-year-old is playing in his 41st straight Grand Slam.