Murray skates into round four
January 21, 2012 11:28:04 UK
Andy Murray had few problems in seeing off France's Michael Llodra in straight sets to set up an Australian Open fourth round clash with Mikhail Kukushkin.
Murray, who has lost in the Melbourne final in each of the last two years, ran out a 6-4 6-2 6-0 winner, with the world number four 6.00 to land the Australian title and finally secure a first Grand Slam crown.
"There were a lot of fun rallies out there and I played well," Murray said after another comfortable victory. "It was a fun tennis match which isn't normal at a Grand Slam."
There were a lot of fun rallies out there and I played well.
Andy Murray
"(Coach) Ivan Lendl would have preferred a few more bread and butter points, serve and forehand finish, but that was my style of tennis tonight."
Kukushkin reached the last 16 with a thrilling five-set win over French 14th seed Gael Monfils, who fought back from two sets down before succumbing to the Kazakh, who is 23.00 to cause a massive shock against Murray.
Waiting for Murray in the last eight, should he see off Kukushkin, will be the winner of the meeting of Japan's Kei Nishikori and sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Murray's potential semi-final opponent, defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic, dropped just two games in thrashing Nicolas Mahut and the Serb is 2.10 to defend his title successfully.
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