By Lisa-Marie Burrows
World No.4 Andy Murray showed that he was indeed a great entertainer against rival Michael Llodra as the Scot impressively booked his spot in the last 16 of the Australian Open after overpowering the Frenchman 6-4, 6-2, 6-0.
At times the encounter between the two players looked more like an exhibition match, particularly during the end of the second set, as Murray flew across the court to make a seemingly impossible passing shot look easy, leaving Llodra pressed against the wall with a wry smile on his face.
Murray was challenged the most in the opening set after breaking the world No.49 early in the third game despite the Frenchman charging to the net to pressurize the Scot. After sparkling net play and with rallies that largely ended with winners, he took the first set 6-4.
The two-time finalist at the Australian Open continued his belligerent form in the second set, attacking Llodra’s serve and returning with venom to go up a double break and secure the second set 6-2.
The third set lasted only 23-minutes as Llodra had no answer to the 24-year-olds aggressive game. The crowd watched in awe to see Murray scurry around the court with great success during cat and mouse-like pleasurable points, which became a whitewash set to the Scot, 6-0.
Murray is through to the last 16 Down Under for the fourth time in his career and he will face unseeded Kazakhstani Mikhail Kukushkin after his shock win against 14th seed Gaël Monfils 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 1-6, 6-4.
Fellow Frenchman, 17th seed Richard Gasquet, had a terrific victory to knock out 9th seed Janko Tipsarevic 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 and he will now play David Ferrer next after the Spanish 5th seed beat Juan Ignacio Chela in straight sets 7-5, 6-2, 6-1.
Kei Nishikori of Japan beat another Frenchman, Julian Benneteau in a close encounter, eventually booking his place in the fourth round after a 4-6, 7-6, 7-6, 6-3 win to meet Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the last 16.
In an entertaining evening match, Aussie Lleyton Hewitt was the unlikely winner on Rod Laver arena against Canadian 23rd seed Milos Raonic in four tight sets 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-3. The hopeful home hero will now face his ultimate challenge – the world No.1, Novak Djokovic. The defending champion was through to the last 16 with a comfortable victory over Nicolas Mahut 6-0, 6-1, 6-1 after dropping only two games in the entire match.