Andy Murray ends Bernard Tomic hopes to reach quarter-finals
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Updated 25/01/2016 at 15:11 GMT
Andy Murray outclassed home hope Bernard Tomic 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4) to secure a quarter-final meeting with David Ferrer in the Australian Open last eight.
Andy Murray celebrates his win over Bernard Tomic
Image credit: AFP
The British number one and second seed was never really tested in ending Australia's remaining player in this year's men's singles draw.
Without ever being at his best and being broken four times, Murray was the more aggressive and dominant man from deep on Rod Laver Arena to reach the last eight for a seventh straight year.
It was business-like from Murray rather than being brilliant, but his performance was more than enough to fend off Tomic, whose winners were eye-catching but all too sporadic.
Eighth seed Ferrer was a 6-4 6-4 7-5 winner against 10th seed John Isner in their last-16 duel.
"It was quite a scrappy match," said Murray, who is chasing his first victory at the Australian Open having lost four times in the final, including a loss in four sets to world number one Novak Djokovic a year ago.
The Scotsman admitted the situation regarding his father-in-law Nigel Sears had been stressful ahead of his match with the 16th seed Tomic.
Ana Ivanovic's coach had required hospital treatment after collapsing during a match on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday before preparing to fly back to the UK.
Murray visited Sears in hospital after his third-round win over Joao Sousa.
The last few days have been very tough, with a lot of emotions and things going on in my head," said Murray. "It has been stressful, but hopefully I'll be a bit more relaxed for my next match.
Murray will withdraw from the tournament if pregnant wife Kim goes into labour early, and would have taken similar action if her father's condition had worsened.
Obviously it depended on Nigel's health," said Murray. "If the news was not positive, then, no, there was absolutely no chance I would have kept playing.
Murray will be optimistic of overpowering Ferrer in their quarter-final on Wednesday. He holds a 12-6 advantage over the Spaniard in career head-to-head meetings, and has won their past five encounters.
"Ferrer must be playing well to beat John Isner," said Murray.
"He makes you work extremely hard, he's been at the top of the game for 10 years and he's very experienced."
With Jo Konta progressing to the last eight of the women's draw, it is the first time since 1977 that there are two British players in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam.
How they line up in men's quarter-finals
- Novak Djokovic (Serb) v Kei Nishikori (Jpn)
- Roger Federer (Swi) v Tomas Berdych (Cze)
- Gael Monfils (Fra) v Milos Raonic (Can)
- David Ferrer (Spa) v Andy Murray (GB)
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