PARIS (AP) – Two-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray extended his impressive winning streak on clay, reaching the French Open fourth round after beating big-hitting Nick Kyrgios 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday.
The third-seeded Briton, who lost in the semifinals last year against nine-time champion Rafael Nadal, was hardly troubled on court Suzanne Lenglen.
After Kyrgios saved a first match point with a stunning forehand at the net, Murray took his next chance by returning a serve with a powerful two-handed backhand from the back of the court that zipped past the Australian.
He beat the 29th-seeded Kyrgios for the second straight Grand Slam, having knocked him out of the Australian at the quarterfinal stage earlier this year, and has not dropped a set against him in three meetings.
Next up for Murray, who hasn’t lost a match on clay this season with titles in Munich and Madrid, is either 17th-seeded David Goffin of Belgium or Frenchman Jeremy Chardy.