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Murray scrambles to thrilling win in Rome

Andy Murray's scrambling game was exceptional © Getty Images

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Rome Masters Seedings

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Andy Murray claimed a victory that will earn him little respect but gain him plenty of self-confidence as he swept past Potito Starace into the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters on Thursday.

Facing the world No. 44, Murray would have been expected to overcome his Italian rival, but he encountered an in-form Starace who was looking for his third straight victory against a top-20 player. Murray had no intentions of completing his opponent's hat-trick, winning 6-2 6-3 in 67 minutes.

So often derided for his tendency to play defensive, Murray displayed why it is so instinctive to play off his back foot, scrambling around the Pietrangeli court to repeatably get the locals off their seats.

On four occasions in the first set the British No. 1 looked like he was completely out of the point, but he covered every inch of the red dirt to slice, chop, lob and craft his way to victory. Two breaks arrived in the first set, earning an approving smile from Murray's back-up staff.

By now there was a feeling that Murray had broken Starace's will, the Italian clearly flummoxed by his opponent's ability to force him to play an extra ball. Murray broke early again in the second, although Starace did level when the Scot sent one long.

The match-clinching break came for 5-3, when more unbelievable hustling by Murray forced multiple break points, and he promptly closed out the contest to set up a last-eight clash with Florian Mayer.

"I won a lot of rallies that I shouldn't have. I played really well, hit my forehand big, and I was pretty smart too, changing pace on the serve and disrupting his rhythm," Murray told Sky Sports, ahead of a first ever meeting with Mayer.

"I've seen him play a few times, he's got tricky shots, but he's a really good ball striker, he plays from awkward positions on the court, but his serve's his weakness so hopefully I can get in some good returns - it'll be a tough match."

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