Determined Murray outlasts Australian threat

Andy Murray powered into a second grass court quarter-final in just over a month with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 comeback over Australian wild card Max Purcell on Wednesday in Newport.

The Scot completed a second match win in as many days to reach the last eight, duplicating his showing last month in Stuttgart against an opponent who depends on the slice for almost every shot.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Murray didn’t flinch after losing the opening set against the No. 202 who played on the winning team alongside Matt Ebden in the Wimbledon doubles final last weekend.

Murray, who trailed a set and a break in the opening game of the second set, calmly went about his comeback effort, notching eight aces and breaking six times.

Purcell only this week earned the first Tour-level match win of the season.

Murray won the final six games of the second set to get on a roll and finished the fightback in the third with a finish on a second match point.

Sixth seed Murray will play for the semi-finals against tournament No. 3 Alexander Bublik after the Kazakh beat American Jack Sock 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.

Bill Scott

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