GETTY
Andy Murray wins Australian Open third round
World No 1 Andy Murray, the favourite after champion Novak Djokovic's stunning second round exit on Thursday, showed no sign of discomfort to the right ankle he twisted in his previous win against Russian teenager Andrey Rublev.
Seeking his maiden title in Melbourne after five losses in the final, Murray was made to work hard to close out victory in the third set at the Hisense Arena against the man who eliminated Djokovic from the third round at Wimbledon last year.
EPA
Andy Murray will now face Mischa Zverev as he attempts to seal his maiden Australian Open title
But the Scot captured the decisive break in the ninth game with some brilliant court movement and wrapped up the match with a big serve to set up a clash against German Mischa Zverev.
Zverev is into the last 16 at a major tournament for the first time after beating Tunisian Malek Jaziri but he has failed to beat Murray in their three meetings so far.
This is familiar territory, however, for Murray, who has now reached 24 consecutive grand slam fourth rounds and, despite a late wobble, he looks well-placed heading into the second week.
EPA
Sam Querry provided some resistance with his massive serve but could not grab a set
He is yet to drop a set so far and there was also little evidence of his sore right ankle – rolled in the second round against Andrey Rublev – causing him any real trouble.
Instead, Murray neutralised Querrey's booming serve, which delivered only five aces and was broken five times, while displaying a level of craft and precision the American was simply unable to match.
"It was tough," Murray said on court afterwards. "Especially in the first set, Sam was hitting a huge ball, he served extremely well but the key moment came at 3-4 in the first set.
"I saved a break point and broke the next game and had the momentum after that."
On his ankle, Murray added: "I felt better and better as the match went on in terms of movement.
"I was a bit hesitant at the beginning, a bit sore, but was moving well at the end so that was very positive."
He seemed to wince at 2-2 when running right to retrieve a volley, perhaps suggesting the ankle is not completely healed, and it was not plain sailing in-court either as he had to save a Querrey break point at 4-3.
But at 4-4, after eight games of scrapping and scrambling, Murray turned the screw. There were three forehands, one dipping into Querrey's feet, the next whipped cross-court for a winner and the last fired down the line for a pass.
There was another pass, this time a backhand, again down the line, and then a superb show of defence as he scooped back two Querrey smashes until the American, impatient, belted long.
Finally, defending his third break point, Querrey submitted, rushing the net only to watch Murray flick a trademark forehand lob over his head and into the opposite corner.
It proved the decisive moment of the set, and the match, as Murray, with the sun in his eyes, served out.
Sir Andy Murray's greatest moments
Wed, January 18, 2017
Express Sport takes a look at some of the greatest moments in Sir Andy Murray’s career so far
Play slideshow
Getty Images
1 of 6
Express Sport brings you five of Sir Andy Murray’s greatest moments
After throwing everything at Murray and coming up short, Querrey looked demoralised and an error-strewn game early in the second handed Murray another break and a 2-1 lead.
A cruel net cord rubbed salt into the wounds as Murray broke again and moved two sets clear.
Murray grew unnecessarily frustrated in the third as he complained about "feeling flat" and yelled in anger after Querrey broke back to level.
But again he stepped up when it mattered, sprinting to chase down a drop shot before Querrey somehow dumped the volley in the net with the entire court at his mercy.
Murray did not waver, a bending serve down the middle confirming a straightforward victory.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
RSS