Andy Murray was well on his way to victory in the fourth round of the Australian Open, up two sets to none and leading the third set, 1-0. But Murray didn’t need to finish off what was all but a formality as Mikhail Kukushkin retired, giving Murray a pass into the quarterfinal round in early action on Sunday night.
Australian Open 2012: Andy Murray Advances In Shortened Match
Murray quickly took the first two sets in his fourth-round match, putting away Kukushkin 6-1 in each. And following the 15th game, Kukushkin could go no further, succumbing to the heat and an ailing hip. The match lasted just 49 minutes, with Kukushkin’s decision to withdraw coming only five minutes, and one game, into the third set.
With the win, Murray advances to face Kei Nishikori in the quarterfinal round. Nishikori defeated Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the No. 6 seed, in five sets, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
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