Andy Murray beats Jeremy Chardy in French Open fourth round

Andy Murray dispatched Jeremy Chardy in four sets to set up a French Open quarter-final against David Ferrer.

The British No 1 will tackle the Spaniard who he has never beaten on clay after several classy backhand shots disposed of Chardy in a  6-4 3-6 6-3 6-2 win.

Chardy, willed on by the home crowd during his finest moments, had criticised Murray’s decision to withdraw from the Rome Masters after their previous meeting but the Scot had the last laugh when they met on Monday.

Murray was gifted a break in the opening game but that shocking start from Chardy wouldn’t extend to his next service game as a cross-court winner earned him an immediate break back.

Murray broke to go 3-2 up by somehow reaching a seemingly lost cause to volley a winner in trademark style before the next few games went with serve – but it was the Scot that seemed in control throughout.

Although Chardy served himself to within touching distance, Murray wrapped up the opening set with an arrow-like winner before the tide would convincingly turn.

The British No 1 had received a mixed welcome on his entry to the court, respectful applause combined with the greeting expected for an opponent of a home player, but the watching fans began to roar as Chardy took over.

The first game of the second set took 15 minutes with both players enjoying then wasting advantage, before it eventually fell the way of Chardy’s serve. He earlier struck his finest shot of the match when it seemed he was beaten, before Murray replied with a backhand winner from a long rally. And then the Frenchman flicked his wrist for a clever forehand winner.

Murray wasted two break points at 2-1 down but Chardy made no such mistake in the following game. A thumping backhand sent Murray’s serve back past him which, coupled with the subsequent hold, gave the world No 45 a three-game advantage that led him to win the set.

An expectant home crowd willed Chardy to a break in the first game of the third but Murray gritted his teeth and responded in kind. That initial burst of energy at the start of the set paved the way for a lull in frenetic action as the scoreboard began to reflect service games.

But Murray raised the tempo in the eighth game and Chardy struggled with the pressure, cracking with a double fault that surrendered break point and a 5-3 lead. Murray served his way to the third set although his opponent complained that the critical point had bounced out of bounds.

Murray ran through the fourth set, breaking at the first opportunity by retrieving an apparent point from Chardy and forcing his opponent to slowly wilt. An equally sensational defensive game sealed a double break and although Chardy broke back, the set never seemed in danger.

A poor miss from the Frenchman gave Murray another break for 5-2 and he served his way into a quarter-final showdown against Ferrer.

The veteran Spaniard, the world No 8, had earlier made short work of former Grand Slam winner Marin Cilic. He secured a 6-2 6-2 6-4 win after just two hours and 13 unforced errors.