Murray into quarter-finals

Andy Murray set up a French Open quarter-final clash with Fernando Gonzalez after producing a consistent display against Marin Cilic in straight sets today.

Andy Murray set up a French Open quarter-final clash with Fernando Gonzalez after beating Marin Cilic in straight sets today.

Cilic, the 13th seed, came into the match having not lost a set all tournament but third seed Murray posted a solid 7-5 7-6 (7/4) 6-1 victory in two hours and 31 minutes on Suzanne Lenglen court.

The Scot, already having his best-ever Roland Garros, is only the third Briton to have made the last eight here in the Open era, after Roger Taylor and Tim Henman, and he has now won four straight matches on clay for the first time.

The pair started in scorching conditions, trading early breaks in the first set.

In the 11th game, Murray grabbed what proved to be the decisive third break - at the second time of asking - when Cilic went long with a backhand.

Serving 6-5 ahead, Murray earned two set points and took the second with an unreturnable serve.

Murray, by that stage, had only hit five winners as opposed to Cilic's 17 but the Scot was proving to be far more consistent on both wings.

He broke first in the second set too, showing familiar battling qualities as he got to a Cilic backhand and returned with interest, his opponent failing to make the volley at the net.

Murray was playing with confidence and his error count was low, with his sometimes cautious approach working while Cilic continued to make the unforced errors.

Murray looked well in control when 4-2 ahead but was broken in game eight after hooking a backhand wide at the end of a long rally.

Murray wasted break points in games nine and 11, and served to stay in the set twice to force a tie-break.

He claimed the early mini-break and shot 6-2 ahead. Cilic came back to 6-4, but on the Scot's third set point, the Croat went wide with a forehand and Murray was on the brink of the quarter-finals.

He broke in the second game of the third set and after Murray had gone 3-0 up, Cilic sent for the trainer, who applied treatment on the player's left thigh.

Cilic had injured that thigh running back in a vain attempt to retrieve a Murray lob.

Murray would later be broken but he had no problems clinching the match at the second time of asking.