• Andy Murray’s improvement on clay continues
• World No4 builds confidence as Paris Open beckons
Andy Murray made short work of Romania’s Victor Hanescu, beating him in 69 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open. Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Andy Murray will have revenge on his mind when he plays David Ferrer for a place in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters 1000, having given further evidence tonight that he is back in form. The world No4 was beaten in straight sets by the Spaniard when they met in Rome a fortnight ago, but an encouraging 6-2, 6-1 win over Victor Hanescu of Romania here has put Murray in good spirits, hopeful that he can reverse the result.
„He’s a very, very good player and he’s been around the top of the game for a long time,” Murray said of Ferrer, who has climbed back up to 12th in the rankings thanks to a superb run of form on clay this year, including an appearance in the final in Rome. „It’s going to be difficult but I definitely feel I’ve got a good chance to win if I play well, which a couple of weeks ago wouldn’t have been the case.”
Murray needed only 69 minutes to get the better of Hanescu and go through to his first quarter-final for two months. After a tough start, when the world No38 produced some searing backhands and looked to have a real chance, Murray soon got on top and in the end it was plain sailing as he cruised into the last eight.
„I played better than in my first match, served well and made fewer mistakes from the back of the court,” he said.
Having arrived in Madrid with just one victory on clay this year, Murray is emerging from a slump that had some observers wondering if something was seriously wrong. But with his confidence on the mend, whatever happens against Ferrer he can go into the forthcoming French Open hopeful that he can emulate his effort of 12 months ago, when he reached the last eight.
The only title of Hanescu’s career came on clay in Gstaad two years ago and in the early stages he matched Murray from the baseline, forcing the Scot to save two break points in the third game.
A six-strong group of supporters, with their T-shirts spelling out the name „Victor”, left at that stage and maybe Hanescu noticed because he quickly lost rhythm. Though he dug deep to hold serve in a long game for 2-2, that effort seemed to take a lot out of him and two games later he netted a backhand to hand Murray a 4-2 lead. Two games later the Briton broke again to take the first set.
Against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in his opening match, Murray had lost his focus momentarily at the start of the second set. Against Hanescu, he broke to lead 2-0 and then broke again in the seventh game on his way through to the last eight.
In the other half of the draw, Rafael Nadal continues to wend his way towards yet another final. The Spaniard had expected a tough match against 6ft 9in American John Isner and he got it but so well is the Spanish world No2 playing right now that the in-form Isner went down 7-5, 6-4.

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Andy Murray breezes past Victor Hanescu to reach quarter-finals

• Andy Murray’s improvement on clay continues
• World No4 builds confidence as Paris Open beckons
Andy Murray made short work of Romania’s Victor Hanescu, beating him in 69 minutes to reach the quarter-finals of the Madrid Open. Photograph: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Andy Murray will have revenge on his mind when he plays David Ferrer for a place in the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters 1000, having given further evidence tonight that he is back in form. The world No4 was beaten in straight sets by the Spaniard when they met in Rome a fortnight ago, but an encouraging 6-2, 6-1 win over Victor Hanescu of Romania here has put Murray in good spirits, hopeful that he can reverse the result.
„He’s a very, very good player and he’s been around the top of the game for a long time,” Murray said of Ferrer, who has climbed back up to 12th in the rankings thanks to a superb run of form on clay this year, including an appearance in the final in Rome. „It’s going to be difficult but I definitely feel I’ve got a good chance to win if I play well, which a couple of weeks ago wouldn’t have been the case.”
Murray needed only 69 minutes to get the better of Hanescu and go through to his first quarter-final for two months. After a tough start, when the world No38 produced some searing backhands and looked to have a real chance, Murray soon got on top and in the end it was plain sailing as he cruised into the last eight.
„I played better than in my first match, served well and made fewer mistakes from the back of the court,” he said.
Having arrived in Madrid with just one victory on clay this year, Murray is emerging from a slump that had some observers wondering if something was seriously wrong. But with his confidence on the mend, whatever happens against Ferrer he can go into the forthcoming French Open hopeful that he can emulate his effort of 12 months ago, when he reached the last eight.
The only title of Hanescu’s career came on clay in Gstaad two years ago and in the early stages he matched Murray from the baseline, forcing the Scot to save two break points in the third game.
A six-strong group of supporters, with their T-shirts spelling out the name „Victor”, left at that stage and maybe Hanescu noticed because he quickly lost rhythm. Though he dug deep to hold serve in a long game for 2-2, that effort seemed to take a lot out of him and two games later he netted a backhand to hand Murray a 4-2 lead. Two games later the Briton broke again to take the first set.
Against Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina in his opening match, Murray had lost his focus momentarily at the start of the second set. Against Hanescu, he broke to lead 2-0 and then broke again in the seventh game on his way through to the last eight.
In the other half of the draw, Rafael Nadal continues to wend his way towards yet another final. The Spaniard had expected a tough match against 6ft 9in American John Isner and he got it but so well is the Spanish world No2 playing right now that the in-form Isner went down 7-5, 6-4.

Read the article on The Guardian

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