US Open update: Murray in tough Tsonga fourth round test

Andy Murray last failed to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam (that he entered) at the US Open in 2010, but his consistent record these last four years may very well be under threat by the in-form Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. He has also failed to beat a top 10 ATP-ranked player since his Wimbledon triumph last year.

The Scot, seeded eighth for this tournament, is odds-on favourite at 4/6 to overcome the exciting Frenchman (11/10), but looked as though he was suffering physically in his four set win over Andrey Kuznetso in the last (third) round. Murray is 8/1 third-favourite to win his second US Open.

Responding to Murray’s claims that he felt okay following his 6-1 7-5 4-6 6-2 victory, former British player Greg Rusedski said: “It didn’t look like that in the third set. It looked a little concerning because he looked a little lethargic out there, he was clutching at his quads and his knee.

“For me there’s still little question marks physically. But the good news is he found a way to get the job done. When he plays Tsonga, it will be interesting to see what sort of frame of mind he puts himself into. If he has those lapses against Tsonga he’s going to end up second best.

“Tsonga has been playing very well. He won in Toronto where he beat Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Murray, so he’s in good shape.”

Elsewhere, Flushing Meadows favourite Djokovic (11/10) will likely be the next opponent for either Murray or Tsonga. The Serb faces German Philipp Kohlschreiber, on the back of a comprehensive 6-3 6-2 6-2 win over home hope Sam Querrey.

Swiss duo Federer (5/2 to win the US Open) and Stan Wawrinka (14/1), meanwhile, have enjoyed relatively easy paths up to this point. The former, who will play Roberto Bautista Agut next, dropped the first set in the third round against Marcel Granollers, but won the next three at a loss of just three games.

His compatriot Wawrinka was given a walkover after Blaz Kavcic pulled out, and now faces Spaniard Tommy Robredo for a place in the quarters.

In the women’s draw, odds-on favourite to defend her crown Serena Williams (8/11) has been in dominant form, bulldozing fellow Americans Taylor Townsend, Vania King and Varvara Lepchenko, whilst dropping just 11 games. She finally faces someone other than from the USA in the fourth round, Estonian Kaia Kanepi, who should be more testing.

Caroline Wozniacki (4/1 second-favourite) is already through to her first Grand Slam quarters since the Australian Open in 2012, after brilliantly disposing of Maria Sharapova in three sets.