Murray's happy that it's been so straightforward
ANDY Murray is confident his straightforward passage through to the last eight of the Australian Open will not prove a hindrance as he gets to the business end of the tournament.
Murray has barely been challenged in Melbourne thus far, not dropping a set as he looks to claim his second grand slam crown following his maiden success in New York in September.
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Monday's fourth-round win over Gilles Simon was more like a practice session, such was the Frenchman's fragile physical state following his exhausting five-set defeat of Gael Monfils, in a match which finished in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Murray won 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 despite not getting out of second gear, increasing the concerns of those who believe it is good for a player to be tested in the early rounds so he is battle-hardened when the going gets tough late in the second week.
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The world number three, however, does not necessarily see it that way and used Simon as an example.
He said: "Simon got tested very hard in his last round and couldn't compete on Monday. You can look at it both ways.
"You have just got to work hard on the days off, practise all the things that you need to do better and hope that when you are tested you play better."
Murray was quick to point out that when he has faced adversity he was able to respond.
"I think this week, the first few matches, like against (Ricardas) Berankis, almost every single time I have been broken, I've broken straight back which is a good sign," he added. "I hope I can keep that up."
Murray is likely to be tested for the first time today when he meets Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who followed up his victory over sixth seed Juan Martin Del Potro with a four-set defeat of Andreas Seppi on Monday.
"I have played him quite a few times, we grew up around the same time in the juniors," the Scot said. "We know each other pretty well."
Murray will, therefore, be aware of Chardy's forehand, which the world number 36 claims is key to his game.
"When I start to hit my forehand, I start to feel confident," he said.
"When my forehand is there, my head is there, everything is there."
Chardy has never made it through to a grand slam quarter-final before – for Murray it is a ninth straight time he has reached this stage.
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