• Monte Carlo Masters

Murray advances as Benneteau retires

Andy Murray looks away as Julien Benneteau receives attention © Getty Images

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Andy Murray moved into the quarter finals of the Monte Carlo Masters as his opponent Julien Benneteau was forced to retire on account of injury.

The match was well poised at 5-5 in the first set when Benneteau slipped when tracking down a forehand. It was the same area of the court that saw Juan Monaco slip over earlier in the week and it was immediately clear that Benneteau was in real discomfort with ankle and wrist injuries.

He was immediately immobilised, with the doctor coming on court to administer treatment. Ice was placed on the area and the Frenchman was treated for a considerable period. He rose to his feet and attempted to play on, but his movement was restricted and he called the trainer out again as Murray had moved into a 6-5 lead.

Treatment was given to his wrist, which took the brunt of the impact of the fall, and he offered his hand to Murray with playing on a hopeless task.

It was a shame for both players as there was nothing to split the pair. Murray had an easy passage past Viktor Troicki in the previous round, but it was clear from the first game that Benneteau would be a tougher customer.

Murray was forced to work hard to hold serve in the opening game, but he did so with a brilliant backhand pass after drawing his opponent in with a clever drop shot. Murray broke serve in the second game, but Benneteau hit back and at the fifth time of asking he got the match back on serve.

There was high-class play from both players, with Murray at one stage winning a long point despite the handicap of a broken string. Service holds were traded and the match was shaping up nicely when Benneteau hit the ground hard when sliding for a forehand and was forced out.

Murray now meets Tomas Berdych in the last eight after Berdych beat Kei Nishikori 2-6 6-2 6-4.

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