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ATP Rome: Murray Breezes Into Quarter Finals

Britwatch Team
Tennis

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By Britwatch Team

  • Andy Murray defeats Jeremy Chardy 6-0, 6-4
  • He will face David Goffin in the last eight

Rome, Italy- Andy Murray breezed past Jeremy Chardy in straight sets to advance to the quarter finals of the Italian open in Rome.

The Brit set up a clash with Belgium’s David Goffin by defeating the Frenchman 6-0, 6-4 in an hour and 18 minutes. Chardy made 27 unforced errors and seven double faults in defeat.

Murray, who now holds a 8-1 head to head record against Chardy, took advantage of his opponent’s erratic play with three breaks of serve in the opening set. The Frenchman could hardly make a dent on the Murray serve and ended up losing the first set 6-0.

The second set was much more competitive as Chardy made less errors and the Brit’s level declined from the first. Murray had break point chances at 3-2but failed to convert, and instead it would be the world number 32 who drew first blood in the second. The lead did not last long however. Murray was able to break back straight away and hold serve to put some scoreboard pressure on his opponent.

At 5-4, the second seed made his move and was able to break again to seal a 6-0, 6-4 victory and book his place in Friday’s quarter finals against Goffin.

The Belgian put in one of the best performances in his career to defeat a wayward Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-0 in one of the most shocking results in an astonishing day in Rome.

Interestingly enough, Goffin was almost victim of a double bagel himself against Murray last year. In one of the 28 year

old’s victories over Goffin, he only dropped one game en route to victory in the Paris Masters. Their only clay meeting was in the Davis Cup later on in the year, and Murray has yet to drop a set against Goffin.

The Belgian has a consistent game, but if any of their past meetings are anything to go by, he should not trouble Murray much here. The Scot is in good form on the clay again this year and will be a heavy favourite to make the last four.

The ATP side of the tournament also saw the two Swiss stars upset in the third round. Roger Federer fell 7-6(2), 6-4 to Dominic Thiem, whilst Juan Monaco scored a surprise three set win over Stan Wawrinka.

David Ferrer was another seeded casualty at the hands of Lucas Pouille, but Rafael Nadal managed to avoid an upset of his own by defeating Nick Kyrgios in three sets after losing the first.

Murray will face Goffin at 13:00 BST on Friday