Summary

  • Andy Murray beats Fernando Verdasco 6-4 7-5 7-6 (7-3)

  • Murray will play Gael Monfils in the quarter-finals

  • Briton wins in two hours and 54 minutes

  • Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer both through

  • * denotes next to serve

Live Reporting

Lawrence Barretto

  1. Andy MurrayAP

    Another Verdasco service game, another break point for Murray. The Spaniard saves the first but he's soon facing another. Murray hits a poor volley and Verdasco launches a forehand right at Murray, hitting his thigh. That's going to bruise. Murray laughs it off, though.

    A third break point for Murray, but a hopeful drop shot from the back of the court goes wide. Deuce. "Vamos!" roars Verdasco as he brings up game point. The Spaniard can't convert, though, dumping a regulation cross-court backhand into the net. Deuce again.

    Another game point for Verdasco but Murray fires a forehand down the line and then whips a backhand cross-court. There's no way Verdasco's getting that. Deuce. Another game point for Verdasco as Murray stretches but can't keep the forehand in. A booming serve follows and that's game...or is it?

    It looks like the serve was out. Verdasco, who is already sat down, argues with the umpire, throwing in a few choice words, until Murray comes over and says that he's happy to agree that the serve was in. Great sportsmanship from the Scot.

  3. Murray cruises through the game to love, which I think I'm right in saying is the first time he has done so in this match.

  4. Fernando VerdascoAFP

    Verdasco brings up game point but then balloons a forehand, not for the first time, which sits up when it lands on the baseline and Murray simply smashes it away cross-court to bring up deuce. Another forehand winner gives Murray a break point, but Verdasco finds a winner of his own. Deuce again.

    The pair trade groundstrokes before Verdasco's forehand breaks down. Another break point but Murray can't run down a forehand down the line. Third deuce. A third break point follows, but Murray fails to steer a backhand down the line. Deuce four.

    A fourth break point courtesy of Verdasco making a hash of an easy forehand. He redeems himself in the next, dealing with a tricky lob with an impressive smash. A lovely stop volley from Murray gives him a fifth break point. He doesn't fancy this one either, though.

    Verdasco brings up a game point and he takes it. Wow. Quite a game, that. Just over 10 minutes.

  5. Get involved

    Philip Nichols: I don't think I have seen Andy smile so much in a match. Good to see him enjoying it!

    Daniel Clements: Only thing that has recently held back Andy is fitness. Well capable of getting to the final. Lack of pressure now won Wimbledon.

    Lucy Johnstone: Fancy Murray to beat Monfils as a potential QF opponent, but Nadal in the semis? Just can't see it.

  6. Mary Pierce
    Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Comfortable hold for Andy, I see a little bit of a pattern with a couple of loose points and not being so aggressive though so there are a couple of things in Andy's game I would like to see improve."

  7. Fans of Andy MurrayReuters

    Where's Andy? Oh, there he is. And there. And there. And there again. What's the collective noun for a group of Murrays? Meanwhile, it's a comfortable hold for Murray, the Scot winning the game to 15.

  8. Fernando Verdasco returnsReuters

    The momentum is well and truly with Murray in this set, the Scot winning the first point with a tasty forehand winner and then gets the next as Verdasco puts a backhand smash into the net. A Verdasco hooked backhand goes wide and it's two break points for Murray.

    A poor backhand from Murray, arguably the first in this set, sees the first go wanting. The second disappears to nowhere as Murray frames a forehand. Deuce. Game point for Verdasco as Murray hits the tape and a huge opportunity completely disappears when a backhand slice ends up in the net. Verdasco hangs in there.

  9. Murray once again finds himself 40-0 up, this time on his serve. Verdasco takes the next with a sumptuous drop shot from the baseline as the sun comes out in Paris. Another game point disappears as Verdasco attacks a second serve and puts away the resultant smash. However, a good deep serve is too hot for Verdasco to handle and the game is Murray's. Break consolidated.

  10. Get involved

    Oliver W: It amazes me how so many people become tennis experts during Grand Slam weeks. Andy knows exactly what he's doing.

    Christian Smith: Verdasco, for all his talent and wondrous shot making, has always struggled in the big moments.

    Dennis Edwards: Enjoyable battle of wills between Murray and Verdasco.

  11. Mary Pierce
    Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "It's looking very very good for Andy but in tennis I have learned it's never over until it's over, anything can happen. But all Andy has to do is hold and he has won this match. Verdasco will make life difficult for Andy and he has to finish it off."

  12. Murray breaks

    Fernando VerdascoReuters

    Murray, playing for the third time in as many days, races to 0-40 on the Verdasco (pictured) serve. The first goes wanting as Murray incorrectly chooses to not play a ball which is ruled to be 'in'. But he takes the second as Verdasco dumps a forehand in the net. Murray breaks.

  13. Piers Newbery
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    "The cheap, or cheaper, seats are full and the Mexican Wave has been unleashed. Spirits are high on Lenglen, mainly because the Monfils score keeps flashing up, but Verdasco's vein-busting reaction to a smash got everyone going. Everyone except Murray, who dominated that set."

  14. Mary Pierce
    Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "That was amazing, so intense, both players wanting it so much."

  15. GAME AND SECOND SET

    Judy Murray is on her feet after watching her son hang in the rally then trade drop shots before watching Verdasco's cross-court pick-up go long. Set point Murray, but Verdasco lacing a smash with venom to bring up deuce. "Come on," roars the Spaniard.

    Delight is followed by anger as Verdasco berates himself for a forehand error. Another set point for Murray but he sends a backhand long. Deuce again. And another game point. This time, Murray gets on top of a backhand and lashes it down the line to seal the game and the set.

  16. Get involved

    Tim Arstall: Really impressive from Murray, people were writing him off after the marathon against Kohlscreiber, but he's a true competitor.

    Mr Greaseball: Murray looking like he's moving much more freely than against Kohlschreiber. Verdasco arguably harder than the German!

    Louise Webb: Even if he beats Verdasco, is AM strong enough to conquer Nadal or Djokovic?

  17. Mary Pierce
    Former Australian and French Open champion on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "I really like what I am seeing, how Andy is taking the ball early and being aggressive. I'm an Andy Murray fan, I love watching him play. The crowd are loving this match and that gets you going even more."

  18. Murray breaks

    Verdasco puts himself in trouble with three consecutive errors to give Murray two break points. Murray only needs the first as he watches Verdasco get a backhand volley all wrong. Murray breaks and will serve for the set.

  19. It's an easy service game for Murray, racing through to 15 and closing it out with an ace.

  20. LATEST SCORES

    Gael MonfilsAFP

    Gael Monfils is just one set away from a quarter-final against either Andy Murray or Fernando Verdasco. The French 23rd seed leads Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-0 6-2 1-1 on Court Philippe Chatrier.