Wiggins gold inspired Murray to make last eight

LONDON (AFP) –

Britain’s Andy Murray celebrates after defeating Cyprus’ Marcos Baghdatis in the 3rd round men’s singles tennis match at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, during the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Britain’s Andy Murray revealed compatriot Bradley Wiggins’s gold medal success on Wednesday inspired his 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Cyprus’s Marcos Baghdatis in the third round at Wimbledon.

Murray had started his bid for Olympic gold in superb form, but Baghdatis pushed him hard in a four-set clash that went late into the evening in the Wimbledon third round last month and the world number 44 proved a tough opponent again at the same stage of the Games.

In windy conditions on Centre Court, Murray looked in danger of a shock defeat as the world number four was out-played in the first set.

But Murray had been fired up by watching Tour de France champion Wiggins win gold in the men’s cycling time trial earlier in the day and he finally found enough momentum to edge through to a last eight clash with Spanish 11th seed Nicolas Almagro.

“Literally right before we walked on court we saw Bradley Wiggins get the gold medal,” Murray said.

“That’s the great thing about the Olympics, you get to watch the other sports,” he added.

Britain’s Andy Murray returns a shot to Cyprus’ Marcos Baghdatis in the 3rd round men’s singles tennis match at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Murray won the match.

“It gives you that extra bit of motivation to go out and try and be part of the medal count and do something for your country.

“It was very windy today. I struggled early on with my timing. I played better in the second set, but it was very tight all the way to the finish.”

Baghdatis broke Murray in the opening game of the match, unleashing a brilliant forehand winner on break-point that left the Scot rooted to the spot.

Although Murray responded with a break of his own in the fourth game, Baghdatis produced some great tennis as he broke to love to take a 4-3 lead.

Baghdatis’s subtle game can make him a tricky proposition and Murray had no answer as the former Australian Open finalist served out the set.

But Baghdatis had faded after initially troubling Murray in their last meeting and once again the Scot wrestled the match away from his opponent.

It was as though the first set had never happened when Murray reeled off three breaks to take the second in emphatic fashion.

Baghdatis had gone from dominant to dismal in the space of 20 minutes and Murray kept the pressure on with another break to take the final set.