DOHA:
Andy Murray jumped on the bank before hitting Alexander Zverev in a marathon of more than three hours on Wednesday to reach the quarter-finals of the Qatar Open.
Murray won 7-6 (7/5), 2-6, 7-5 after breaking serve twice in the third set.
In his on-court interview after the win, Murray said the crowd helped him.
“It makes a big difference for the players when we come out and get a lot of energy and a good atmosphere from the crowd,” Murray said. “Obviously I enjoyed playing in that environment tonight.”
The former British No. 1 in the world will face Frenchman Alexandre Muller, who upset Dutch eighth seed Botic van de Zandschulp 6-2, 6-4.
Murray and Muller never met.
“It’s unusual,” Murray said. “But he’s definitely had a good week this week through qualifying. He’s got four games now, so he’s definitely happy with these conditions.”
“I’m sure my coach will be watching videos and stuff tonight to get to know his game better, but this is an opportunity for me in the quarter tomorrow.”
Top seed Andrey Rublev, the 2020 Doha champion, was in danger of suffering his fourth start in five rounds this year before coming back from 2-5 down in the set. third to defeat Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor 1-6, 6-1, 7-6 (8/6).
Griekspoor squandered three match points on his serve in the ninth game of the third set.
He then saved two match points in the match before Rublev won in one hour and 54 minutes.
Rublev will face Jiri Lehecka, the 21-year-old Czech, who defeated Finn Emil Ruusuvuori, 6-2, 7-6 (7-2).
Canadian second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime struggled against Jason Kubler’s serve in the first set but recovered to beat the Australian 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 in the latter. of two hours and 16 minutes.
Kubler won the first meeting in Newport last year.
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