French Open: Murray dumps Nick Kyrgios in third round

Third-seeded Murray, twice a <g data-gr-id="22">semifinalist</g> in Paris, cruised to a 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 victory, capitalising on the 20-year-old Australian’s inconsistency which saw thunderous, flashy winners annulled by silly errors.

<g data-gr-id="27">Kyrgios</g>, the 29th seed and bidding to add a first French Open last-16 place to his runs to the 2014 Wimbledon and 2015 Australian Open quarterfinals, wasn’t helped by requiring a medical timeout for an injury to his right arm late in the second set.

Murray, who fired 12 aces and 45 winners while <g data-gr-id="25">Kyrgios</g> was undone by 37 unforced errors, goes on to face either Belgian 17th seed David Goffin or unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy for a place in the quarterfinals. It was 28-year-old Murray’s third successive win over <g data-gr-id="26">Kyrgios</g>, all without dropping a set, as he took his record on clay this year to 13-0.

“It was a tough match. Nick really goes for the big shots,” said Murray.

“But I used variety and slice, tried to mix it up to break his rhythm and it seemed to work. “He wasn’t helped by struggling with his arm injury.” Despite his bandaged right forearm, <g data-gr-id="21">Kyrgios</g> broke for a 2-1 lead in the third before surrendering the advantage in the next game.           

 Novak Djokovic strode effortlessly into the fourth round of the French Open with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over giant Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis. The world No.1 banged his feet angrily to remove the dirt after twice sliding in the same point – the only time he did not look completely in control of this pedestrian win. Djokovic broke his 6ft 5in opponent’s serve in the middle of the first set and the very first game of the second, losing just five points on his own serve over the same period. A 30-shot rally at the opening of the third set finally got the crowd going, and it was clear the neutrals were supporting Kokkinakis when he saved three match points in a row. But the Serbian is nothing but relentless and the last thing he needs on top of that is luck. Nevertheless, a complete mishit brought him a break point in the third set and from then on in it was a complete formality.