Murray eases past Khachanov into quarter-finals

World number one Andy Murray made short work of unseeded Russian Karen Khachanov to reach the French Open quarter-finals with a clean-as-you-like 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory on Monday.

Murray largely dispensed with the chuntering and lapses that accompanied his first two matches as he maintained the momentum established in beating Juan Martin del Potro with an assured display on Court Philippe Chatrier.

The 30-year-old Briton made only one unforced error in pocketing the opening set and although he did drop serve late in the second he broke back immediately to take complete control of his first meeting with the talented Russian.

The powerful 21-year-old Khachanov, playing in his third grand slam event, showed flashes of brilliance in the sunshine but not for long enough spells to worry Murray who is through to the quarter-finals for the seventh time.

Murray broke in the ninth game of the third set, having just dropped his own with a rare baseline error, and wrapped up his 650th Tour-level win when Khachanov sprayed a forehand wide.

He will face eighth seed Kei Nishikori of Japan in the last eight.

Stan Wawrinka’s array of shots was too much to handle for a resurgent Gael Monfils as the 2015 champion reached the French Open quarter-finals with a 7-5 7-6(7) 6-2 victory on Monday.

The third seed from Switzerland was a break down in the opening set but played tighter when it mattered while Monfils, who had been struggling with injuries this season, looked suddenly out of sorts.

Wawrinka, who will take on Croatian Marin Cilic for a place in the last four, squandered three set points in the second set tiebreak but prevailed on his fourth attempt.

In the two other games Kei Nikishoti defeated Fernando Verdasco 3-1 (0-6,6-4,6-4,6-0) while Croat Marin Cilic also progressed to the quarter finals after his opponent Kevin Anderson retired with the Croat up a set and leading 3-0 in the second.