07 June,2017 09:42 AM IST | Paris | PA Sport
John McEnroe believes Andy Murray is on course for another run to the French Open final after the World No. 1 eased his way into the last eight in Paris
Andy Murray and John McEnroe
Britain's Andy Murray celebrates his French Open fourth-round win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Monday. Pic/AFP
John McEnroe believes Andy Murray is on course for another run to the French Open final after the World No. 1 eased his way into the last eight in Paris.
Having started the French Open harbouring significant doubts about his form, Murray has played himself into familiar territory.
He proved too experienced for Karen Khachanov, defusing the power of the 21-year-old Russian to win 6-3 6-4 6-4.
Next up is a re-run of his US Open quarter-final clash with Kei Nishikori, which the Japanese won, and third seed Stan Wawrinka is likely to be waiting if he can get through that.
John McEnroe
It appears a dramatic turnaround for Murray, who arrived at Roland Garros having lost back-to-back matches against Borna Coric and Fabio Fognini. But McEnroe, who is playing in the Legends event, said: "I don't think he was as far away as people were saying. It's a matter of attitude. He's tougher to beat in the Slams and he's proving that now.
"The draw looked fairly tough in the beginning but now you'd have to say you'd be somewhat surprised if he didn't get to the semis if not the final."
Russian Khachanov was the youngest man to reach the fourth round at Roland Garros for eight years, and showed enough in this match alone to suggest he will be going a lot further in the not-too-distant future.
Khachanov had beaten Tomas Berdych and John Isner to make the last 16 but Murray came into the match buoyed by his third-round win over Juan Martin del Potro.
He felt he stepped up another level against Khachanov, saying: "I think today was probably the best I have played overall. It was difficult conditions. It was pretty windy out there. Wasn't easy."
