Andy Murray has advanced to the semi-finals of the French Open for the third consecutive year, defeating home favourite Richard Gasquet in four sets on the Philippe-Chatrier court on Wednesday afternoon.
The world number two was made to work for his win, however, losing the first set and being taken to a tie-break in the second on the way to a 5-7 7-6(3) 6-0 6-2 victory in three hours and 23 minutes.
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The Scot started the encounter on the front foot, breaking in just the second game and holding to love in the third. Indeed, he was 5-2 up before the Frenchman - appearing in the quarter-finals of the tournament for the first time - stunned his opponent with five games in a row to take an unlikely lead.
The second set went the way of serve until the sixth game when Murray claimed another break. Having taken the first point with a poor smash off the frame, Murray reeled out the win to love against an unnerved Gasquet.
Again Murray found himself 5-2 up but again, Gasquet showed signs of rocking the apple cart with three wins in a row to ensure that a breaker was needed. It was early advantage to the world number 12 as he took a 3-1 lead but a determined Murray notched up six straight points - including two aces - to restore parity.
Thereafter there was only to be one winner as the physical strains of the contest began to show on Gasquet, and Murray breezed through the third set with a bagel, wrapping up the sixth game to love.
The fourth set was a similarly comfortable story for Murray, breaking twice against his subdued opposition to claim a 6-2 win and ensure his participation in the last four of the tournament, where he will meet defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka.
Neil Wilkes
