Murray on course for Nadal clash in Miami
BRITISH No1 Andy Murray swept into the quarter-finals of the Miami Masters with a straight-sets triumph over Frenchman Gilles Simon last night.
World No4 Murray beat Simon for the ninth time in 10 meetings 6-3, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash against Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic.
The Scot profited from a patient approach against Simon, ranked nine places below him, and did not allow his opponent a single break point.
World No2 Rafael Nadal remains on course to meet Murray in the semi-finals after he overcame knee trouble to beat Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-4. Murray, meanwhile, will not play in Great Britain’s Davis Cup tie against Belgium next week after he was left out of the four-man squad.
He missed the nail-biting victory over Slovakia last month and hinted earlier this month that he would be unlikely to feature if he reached the latter stages in Miami.
Victory over Belgium in Glasgow would send Great Britain into the World Group play-offs, which take place in September. As against Slovakia, James Ward and Dan Evans will be the singles representatives, with Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchings the doubles partnership.
If Murray makes Sunday’s final, he would have just five days until the Davis Cup tie, which starts on Friday.