PARIS // Top seed Andy Murray gave Karen Khachanov a two-hour tennis lesson in the French Open fourth round on Monday before predicting a top-20 place for the rising Russian this year.
Khachanov matched Murray for power on a sunny Court Philippe Chatrier but was second-best in every other department as the 30-year-old world number one mastered him 6-3 6-4 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the seventh time.
In doing so, he clocked up a 650th Tour-level victory.
Murray made only one unforced error in the first set, won 75 percent of his second-serve points and clinically took advantage every time the 21-year-old Khachanov was betrayed by his lack of grand slam experience.
In his first match against a world No 1, the 1.96-metre tall Khachanov cracked down 34 clean winners to Murray’s 29 but it was all to no avail as the Briton kept him at arm’s length to seal a clash with eighth seed Kei Nishikori.
After a torrid build-up to the tournament when he could not buy a victory followed by scratchy four-set victories in the opening two rounds, Murray has timed his return to form perfectly, taking down former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets, then ousting Khachanov.
“Come a long way the last 10 days or so,” said Murray, runner-up to Novak Djokovic last year. “Each match I feel I played better. I’ve hit the ball cleaner and started to see the right shots at the right moments.”
That was the case when he swiped a forehand return past Khachanov at 2-3 in the first set to carve out his first break point which he converted thanks to a double-fault.
Another ill-timed Khachanov double-fault gave Murray an early break in the second set, although a couple of errors off the Murray forehand allowed the Russian to break back for 3-3.
Murray quickly broke again to seize control and looked comfortable throughout the third set in which he again broke twice.
The Scot, however, was impressed by Khachanov’s game.
“I think by the end of this year, you know, top 20, top 25, and then from there, who knows?,” said Murray, well aware of the grind needed to reach the very top levels. “In my opinion, he has a very good coach in Galo Blanco. Pretty much everyone he’s worked with, he’s helped them a lot.”
Immediately after the contest ended with a Khachanov error, Murray’s thoughts turned to the attacks in London on Saturday that left seven people dead.
“It was a terrible tragedy in London and also in Manchester only a few weeks ago,” he said. “Paris has had some problems in the last few years and I’m sure everyone will join me in sharing the fact that our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by this.”
Other results
Stan Wawrinka, the third seed, booked a place in the quarter-finals for the fourth time with a comfortable 7-5, 7-6, 6-2 win over Gael Monfils, the last French player in the men’s draw.
Marin Cilic completed the quarter-final line-up when South Africa’s Kevin Anderson retired with a thigh injury trailing 6-3, 3-0.
He will take a 2-11 losing record against Wawrinka into his match with the Swiss star.
It is Cilic’s first Roland Garros last-eight spot while he is the first Croatian to get this far since Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic in 2006.
Seven of the top seeds have made the quarter-finals with Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta playing the role of gate-crasher having knocked out fifth seed Milos Raonic on Sunday.
Czech world number two Karolina Pliskova needed three sets to get past Paraguay’s Veronica Cepede Royg.
The world number 97 had only won one match at the majors before this year’s Roland Garros but she was the better player in the first set with Pliskova hitting just four winners.
But the second seed steadied the ship to go through 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Pliskova next faces 28th seed Caroline Garcia who won her all-French grudge match with Alize Cornet 6-2, 6-4.
The two compatriots have been involved in a recent feud over the Fed Cup and are barely on speaking terms.
However, they exchanged smiles and a warm embrace at the net at the end of the tie.
Title favourite and 2014 runner-up Simona Halep trounced Spain’s Carla Suarez-Navarro 6-1, 6-1 to make the last eight without dropping a set or breaking sweat.
Third seed Halep, who like Pliskova can become the new world number one if she wins the title, claimed her first victory on clay in six attempts against the Spaniard.
“I played my best match of the tournament. I served well and opened up the court,” said Halep.
The 25-year-old Halep will tackle Ukraine’s fifth seed Elina Svitolina for a semi-final place.
The two met in the Rome final on the eve of Roland Garros when Halep was beaten and suffered an ankle injury which threatened her appearance in Paris.
Svitolina reached the quarter-finals for the second time, ending the dream run of world number 290 Petra Martic with a 4-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.
However, Martic, bidding to become only the 10th qualifier to make the last eight in Paris threw away a golden chance for victory.
The 26-year-old led 5-2 in the final set before Svitolina rallied to race away with the last five games.
Halep rediscovers form
Third seed and 2014 runner-up Simona Halep charged into the French Open last eight on Monday with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.
Halep is one of the favourites to win the title in Paris and swept aside her 21st-seeded opponent in exactly one hour on Court Philippe Chatrier.
It was the Romanian’s first win over Suarez Navarro on clay in six attempts.
She will play either Elina Svitolina of Ukraine or qualifier Petra Martic, the world 290 from Croatia, for a place in the semi-finals.
You’re fired!
Tomas Berdych fired former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic from being his coach on Monday.
Berdych was eliminated from the French Open in the second round by Karen Khachanov of Russia 7-5, 6-4, 6-4.
“Goran and I will not be working together anymore,” Berdych said. “I enjoyed the ride and we will remain great friends. Wish him all the best in the future and I am committed to go after my goals with current team.”
Ivanisevic, who won Wimbledon in 2001 and helped Marin Cilic win the US Open in 2014, joined Berdych’s coaching team in August.
During their partnership, Berdych dropped from No 8 to No 14, leaving the top 10 for the first time since 2010.
Berdych, 31, led the Czechs to two Davis Cup titles but has never won a grand slam tournament. He was a runner-up at Wimbledon in 2010 and reached his highest ranking of No 4 last year.
* Agencies
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