World No 2 recovers after first-set blow against Benoit Paire while Spanish ace Rafael stretched by initially by Dominic Thiem; Swiss stars Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka sail through
Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal
Monte Carlo: Andy Murray fought though a roller-coaster finish while Rafael Nadal had to hold off a young pretender as both seeds managed wins into the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday.
Andy Murray returns to Benoit Paire at the Monte Carlo Masters yesterday
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Swiss stars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka looked in supreme control. Federer beat Roberto Bautista 6-2, 6-4.
Murray, seeded second and target man of the week after the second-round elimination of Novak Djokovic, scratched out a narrow 2-6, 7-5, 7-5 win over Benoit Paire.
Nadal, the eight-time tournament winner, had to save 15 break points against Dominic Thiem to avoid a second upset loss this season to the 22-year-old Austrian talent.
Spaniard Rafael Nadal during his Monte Carlo Masters clash against Dominic Thiem yesterday. Pics/AFP
The Spanish fifth seed finally prevailed 7-5, 6-3 in two hours to put behind a semi-final loss he took against Thiem two months ago in Buenos Aires on clay. Nadal will next play fellow Roland Garros champion Stan Wawrinka, who put away Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-2.
Murray vs Raonic in QF
Murray will take on the big serve of Milos Raonic in a Friday quarter-final after the Canadian defeated Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5). Murray stands 5-4 over Raonic, and defeated the Canadian in an Australian Open semi-final in January.
Murray made a recovery from a set and two breaks down in the second set against Paire as he turned the tide in stuttering fashion against the Frenchman, who admitted this week that his tennis is plagued by doubts and a serious case of nerves.
He proved that point by double-faulting for the eighth time on a Murray match point to end the struggle after more than two and a half hours.
The 22nd-ranked Paire also served twice for victory without success. The Scotsman called his victory "a big win". "To win from 6-2, 3-0 down, two breaks, when you're not playing particularly well, it's a great effort. These matches are important.
"It would have been easy to lose today and get down on myself. But I kept fighting right the way through to the end," said Murray.
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