French Open Day 7: Murray finds clay game

The world number one might have expected to play John Isner in a repeat of last year's last-16 clash, but instead will face 21-year-old Russian Karen Khachanov.

The 25-year-old Romanian, runner-up here in 2014, was a doubt for the tournament with an ankle injury.

Paris: Juan Martin del Potro hailed French Open conqueror Andy Murray for playing like a "real No. 1" as he slipped to a straight sets loss at the hands of the British star on Saturday. "I am a strong guy".

Born in Moscow, Khachanov has been coached by Galo Blanco at the Spaniard's academy in Barcelona for three years now.

Murray saved four set points to win a titanic opener lasting 84 minutes and was in control thereafter to win 7-6 (10-8), 7-5, 6-0.

"He played very smartly".

'I think that is what we are looking for, to play on the big arenas like here, centre court, and to play against the world No. 1.

"In the matches here I've been more switched on", he said. The further that you go, the better you start to feel, the more confidence you get and you are in the second week of a slam, so anything is possible. The 53rd-ranked Khachanov made 38 unforced errors, compared to only 14 for Murray.

"When I was young, like from 10 to 12, I was having chess classes", he said.

"I think today was probably the best I have played overall". It's one of my hobbies. In the matches maybe I was just not as switched on as I needed to be - and that can make a huge difference.

"I was expecting a tough game against a very good clay-court player", Halep said. Zverev looks uncatchable in first place and Khachanov, who sits sixth, has been inspired by the German's achievements.

Murray, runner-up in the French capital last year, has now bettered his showing in the year's opening Grand Slam event where he suffered a shock fourth-round defeat to Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open. "I don't even know if I won or lost".

"I felt like I've been doing the right things in practice". "Hopefully we can find a solution for (the terror attacks), because it's been going on a long time".

But you then have another 15 to 20 seconds to either calm yourself down and think about the next one, or spend that time thinking about what just happened - "why did I just get broken serving for the set?"

France's Alize Cornet plays a shot against France's Caroline Garcia during their fourth round match of the French Open tennis tournament at the Roland Garros stadium, in Paris, France.