Murray cruises into fourth round

Andy Murray will play either Mikhail Youzhny or Viktor Troicki on Monday
28 June 2013

Andy Murray reached the second week of Wimbledon in style with a straight-sets victory over 32nd seed Tommy Robredo under the Centre Court roof.

The world number two has not yet looked close to dropping a set in three matches, and for a set and a half he was quite brilliant.

Murray could not quite maintain that high level for the remainder of the match but it was good enough and he wrapped up a 6-2 6-4 7-5 success to set up a fourth-round meeting against either Mikhail Youzhny or Viktor Troicki on Monday.

The tone was set early as Murray, who was again striking the ball brilliantly, sent Robredo scampering from one side of the court to the other, earning a break of serve in only the third game.

And it was to get even better two games later, a flash of a cross-court backhand giving Murray a break point, and Robredo then sent a forehand well long.

Rather surprisingly, the Spaniard then ended a four-game losing streak by breaking Murray, an ill-advised drop shot costing the Scot. But he hit back straight away with another break and wrapped up a 35-minute set with an unreturnable serve.

Murray wasted no time taking control in the second set, a backhand whipped across Robredo giving him a break in the first game. Robredo had the best view in the house of how well his opponent was playing, Murray's backhand really fizzing off his racket, but the 32nd seed was battling hard, fighting off a break point to hold for 3-2.

As the battle went on, Murray's level began to drop a little, and, after shanking a forehand on his first set point, he found himself facing break point as Robredo attempted to make it 5-5. He saved it with a bullet of a forehand, Robredo almost appearing to be knocked off his feet as he went tumbling to the turf, and took his second set point when his opponent sent a backhand long.

Both men were rattling through their service games - the first eight games of the third set took just 28 minutes. But when Robredo served at 5-5 there came a twist. A backhand volley plum on the join of baseline and sideline set up a break point, Robredo smiling ruefully, and when the Spaniard netted a tame forehand, Murray had the chance to serve for the match.

The crowd roared, and the Scot made sure there were no late twists. There was one last hurrah as Robredo saved a match point with a superb running forehand pass, but he netted moments later and Murray had his victory.

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