LONDON // Andy Murray completed an astonishing turnaround after staring defeat in the face to beat Frenchman Richard Gasquet 5-7 3-6 7-6 6-2 6-4 and claim a Wimbledon quarter-final spot. The Briton was two sets behind and a break down at 5-4 in the third before his survival instincts kicked in. He delighted the home crowd on Centre Court by breaking straight back to level at 5-5 before forcing a tiebreak which he took with ease.
The 12th seed repeatedly punched the air and brought the crowd to their feet as he raced through the fourth set, where eighth seed Gasquet's previously sizzling backhand winners fizzled out, to set up an exciting fifth. The 21-year-old got an early break under his belt and Gasquet faded along with the light, allowing Murray to secure victory when the Frenchman put his return into the net. The win after nearly four hours allowed him to reach his first grand slam quarter-final, where he will face second seed Rafael Nadal.
*Reuters