Australian Open: Andy Murray beats Robert

Andy Murray shakes hands with Stephane Robert after winning their men's singles match. Picture: Getty

What looked a routine win for Andy Murray turned into a bit of a struggle before he finally saw off French lucky loser Stephane Robert to reach the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

Murray missed four match points in the second set but ensured there was no miracle comeback for Robert by wrapping up a 6-1 6-2 6-7 (6/8) 6-2 victory on his sixth chance.

Much greater tests await with either Roger Federer or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga waiting in the last eight.

Murray’s first dropped set of the tournament appeared more of an inconvenience than anything more threatening, but he still needed a good start to the fourth.

And he got it with a break to love to lead 3-1, Robert rather handing it to him by double-faulting for the sixth time.

The 33-year-old had already called the trainer to have his thigh massaged, and it was an awfully long way back for him.

Murray thought he had taken his fifth match point when Robert’s shot was called wide but it was correctly overruled.

A sixth arrived straight after, though, and this time he clinched it when the Frenchman netted a forehand.

It took two hours and 21 minutes but Murray was finally through to his 12th grand slam quarter-final in a row at tournaments he has contested.

Robert stayed on court to soak up some deserved applause as a relieved Murray celebrated surviving his first hiccup.