Murray downs Dimitrov to reach Australian Open Quarter-Final!

Andy Murray by Getty Images

Andy Murray put in a scintillating display to power past Grigor Dimitrov and reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the sixth year in a row.

Murray avenged the straight-sets defeat he suffered to Dimitrov at Wimbledon last year by overcoming the Bulgarian 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5.

The British No.1 has still only lost one set at Melbourne Park this year and goes on to face Aussie teenager Nick Kyrgios in the last eight.

Andy Murray by Getty Images

Dimitrov started the late night match on the Margaret Court Arena in quick fashion, racing into a 3-0 lead but his fired-up opponent roared back to win six of the next seven games to take the set.

After an early break in the second, Murray was in control but got pegged back to 3-3 before breaking again at 5-5 to give him a chance to serve for a two-sets to love lead.

However, an untimely double fault handed Dimitrov another break back as the set went to a tie-break which the No. 10 seed took for the loss of five points to level the match.

Grigor Dimitrov by Getty Images

That was as good as it got for Dimitrov though as he found himself under constant pressure in the third with Murray finally converting his seventh break point of the set and confidently serving it out 6-3.

The fourth set followed a similar pattern to the first with Dimitrov quickly securing a 3-0 lead but this time the 2014 Aegon Championships winner had a set point at 5-2 ahead.

After he did not take it, Murray held serve and carried the momentum to win the next four games in a row to settle an enthralling match that finished well after midnight Down Under.

Commenting afterwards, Murray said: “I did get quite lucky at the end. A few net cords went my way and that was the difference really.

“A lot of the games were close, back and forth, and the momentum was switching both ways all the time. When I got the momentum I tried to keep it going.

“I thought tonight’s match was entertaining. There was a lot of good rallies and I hope it was fun for everyone watching. I am just glad I managed to get through in the end.

“Nick has had an unbelievable tournament so far. He is only going to keep on getting better and I will have to play a great match to win against him. Hopefully there will be a few people supporting me in a couple of days’ time!”

Head 2 Head:

Match-Up	Times Played	Winner	Most Recent Result
Murray v Kyrgios	1	Murray	AM 6-2, 6-2 Canadian Open 2014

Andy Murray so far:

Round 1 v Yuki Bhambri: 6-4. 6-4, 7-6(3)

Round 2 v Marinko Matosevic: 6-1, 6-3, 6-2

Round 3 v Joao Sousa: 6-1, 6-1, 7-5

Round 4 v Grigor Dimitrov: 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5

Nick Kyrgios so far:

Round 1 v Federico Delbonis: 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-3

Round 2 v Ivo Karlovic: 7-6(4), 6-4, 5-7, 6-4

Round 3 v Malek Jaziri: 6-3, 7-6(6), 6-1

Round 4 v Andreas Seppi: 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 8-6

(View full draw)

Juniors on court:

Elsewhere, Maia Lumsden faced a tough opener in her first round singles match against No.6 seed Kimberley Birrell with the Australian taking a 6-3, 6-3 win.

Maia Lumsden by Getty Images

Emily Arbuthnott, out of the singles on Saturday, teamed up with Danish player Emilie Francati to beat American duo Jessica Ho and Raveena Kingsley 7-6(3), 2-6, (10-8).