Andy Murray edged into the quarter-finals of the Artois Championships with a 5-7 6-1 6-4 win over fellow youngster Ernest Gulbis.

Both players fought against strong wind, a rain delay and treacherous conditions on the ground to produce an entertaining and even encounter.Interview Highlights

The opening set was eventful in itself as the players were barely on court when the rain threatened to cut the match short. At 2-2, Murray put a bit of pressure on the umpire to call off following a couple of dodgy falls on the slippy court. However, this was not the last part the slippery court would play in this match. When play resumed after a short delay, both players held serve solidly. However, at 5-5 and 30-30 with Murray serving, Gulbis slipped and hit a volley directly at Murray. The ball his the Scot and therefore, despite the fact the ball was flying miles out, Gulbis earned a break point. During the following point, Murray also slipped and injured his thumb. Gulbis went on to break and, during the changeover, Andy called the trainer on. Gulbis then served out the set, winning it 7-5.

Read the rest of the match report
The second set, in comparison was quite short and uneventful. Murray found his aggressive streak and raced to a 4-1 lead. The British number ne then delighted the crowd with another break of serve, finally sealing the set 6-1.

The momentum seemed to be with Andy as the third set begun. However, another bad fall for Andy drew a cry of pain and memories of Hamburg came flooding back to every Murray fan. Murray went directly to the chair and called for the trainer. Following a massage to both his groin and neck, Andy made his way back out onto the court, but by this time the young Latvian had regained his composure and the players contested a competative third set. Andy begun to mix the correct level of aggresion with defense, drawing the errors from Gulbis on serve at 4-4 and a delightful defensive backhand won him the break of serve. He then confidently served it out, winning himself his first quarter final since Dubai in March.  

The British number one will face Andy Roddick tomorrow, after the big-serving American beat his compatriot Mardy Fish in his match earlier today due to Fish's retirement.

Match Statistics (1 image)

Reading the posts off the match he really seems to have been playing better - a good sign that the old spirit is coming back perhaps

Lorna, that is one mofo of a news post.

yeah and with that amazing backhand to break in the third.

He wrote a short report before leaving for dinner and then Lorna wrote a proper one.

We're a News Team.

Shizer.

There's a good chance it will hurt a lot more tomorrow so a pull out would not surprise me at all.