Master Murray schools Khachanov to ease into French Open last eight

Reuters: Top seed Andy Murray gave Karen Khachanov a two-hour tennis lesson in the French Open fourth round on Monday before predicting a top-20 place for the rising Russian this year.

Khachanov matched Murray for power on a sunny Court Philippe Chatrier but was second-best in every other department as the 30-year-old world number one mastered him 6-3 6-4 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals at Roland Garros for the seventh time.

In doing so, he clocked up a 650th Tour-level victory.

Murray made only one unforced error in the first set, won 75% of his second-serve points and clinically took advantage every time the 21-year-old Khachanov was betrayed by his lack of grand slam experience.In his first match against a world number one, the 1.96-metre tall Khachanov cracked down 34 clean winners to Murray’s 29 but it was all to no avail as the Briton kept him at arm’s length to seal a clash with eighth seed Kei Nishikori.After a torrid build-up to the tournament when he could not buy a victory followed by scratchy four-set victories in the opening two rounds, Murray has timed his return to form perfectly, taking down former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro in straight sets, then ousting Khachanov.