Gritty Murray outlasts Dimitrov

Andy Murray looks to the sky after defeating Grigor Dimitrov. Source: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

ANDY Murray has described Nick Kyrgios as "dangerous" and "unpredictable" after booking a quarter-final showdown against the rising Australian star early Monday morning with a four-set win over Grigor Dimitrov.

The No.6 seed set up a mouth-watering clash with the young tyro after triumphing 6-4 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 7-5 in an enthralling battle that lasted more than three and a half hours on Rod Laver Arena against the Bulgarian No.10 seed.

It was the first time at this year's Australian Open that Murray had been pushed beyond three sets.

A two-time grand slam champion, the Australian Open crown has eluded Murray three times, finishing runner-up in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Andy Murray stretches for a ball against Grigor Dimitrov. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

Murray's portion of the draw opened up significantly after the shock loss of 17-time grand slam champion Roger Federer last Friday.

But the Brit admitted he would have to be on his game to get past Kyrgios on Tuesday.

"He has had an unbelievable tournament so far and he is only going to keep getting better and I am going to have to play a great match to win against him,'' Murray said.

"He is dangerous, unpredictable, entertaining and he is a good athlete and moves well on the court, he has a lot of things going for him.''

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Murray boasts a perfect record in his matches against Australians, but said he did not expect it to stay that way forever.

"I got told after I played (Marinko) Matosevic that it (my record) was 10-0," Murray said.

"I did say that with the amount of great young talent that they have got in Australia that I am not going to keep a perfect record against them for long, they are going to be top, top players for a number of years and hopefully my streak doesn't end in a couple of days.

"But I certainly won't keep it going forever."

Grigor Dimitrov and Andy Murray shake hands against the match. Source: AP

Murray weathered an early assault from Dimitrov, who broke the two-time grand slam champion in the second game on his way to a 3-0 start.

But Dimitrov was to win just one more game for the set as Murray roared back into the battle, sealing the first set with a blistering ace.

Murray looked to have found his groove after getting the early break in the second set, but Dimitrov wound him in.

As the dramatic contest unfolded on Hisense Arena between Kyrgios and Andreas Seppi, Murray and Dimitrov produced their own highlights.

Grigor Dimitrov snaps his racquet in half after being broken for a second time in the fourth set. Source: AP

Dimitrov emerging from two brilliant long rallies to break Murray and draw level at 3-3 providing one of the memorable passages of play.

He continued to push Murray to a second-set tie-break, in which he triumphed 7-5, to take a set off the Brit for the first time in the tournament.

After letting the second set slide, Murray stepped up his attack in the third, firing four aces to take the set 6-3.

Dimitrov responded to win the first three games of the fourth set and had Murray staring at set-point at 5-3 before the Brit regrouped to win the next four games and seal his fourth round win.

"I did get quite lucky at the end, a few net cords went my way and that was the difference really,'' Murray said.

"A lot of the games, even in the fourth set, there were a lot of games back and forth and the momentum was switching both ways all the time. Once I got momentum I just tried to keep it going.

"I'm just glad I managed to get through in the end, but I thought I played a good match today."

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