World No 1 Andy Murray reached the French Open third round on Thursday with a bruising 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(3) win over Martin Klizan of Slovakia.

It was a sluggish start for the Scot in the first set, who was broken by Klizan early. However, Murray got an opening back in the set as Klizan was unable to serve out the set in the 10th game. The set proceeded on serve thereafter and in the resulting tie-break, Klizan once again came out on top, taking the lead after winning the tie-break 7-3.

Two breaks of serve each in the second and third saw the 2016 finalist take a two-sets-to-one lead in the match, but the momentum tipped back in the Slovakian’s favour in the fourth set.

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A break on Murray’s serve in his opening service game of the fourth set saw Klizan take a lead in the set. Klizan maintained this lead long enough to try and serve out the set in the ninth game, but Murray broke back to bring back the set on serve. The set played out in a similar fashion to the first, with the tie-break being enforced though eventually it was the 30-year-old, who got the better of his patchy rival.

Speaking to Fabrice Santoro after the match, Murray noted that he had expected the match-up to be a tougher one. He also added, “I tried to play a solid match. I got better as the match went on and I started to hit the balls deeper [in the court].”

Murray will face Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro on Saturday for a place in the last-16. Del Potro had quite a tumultuous pathway into the the third round, after his opponent Nicolas Almagro was forced to retire partway in the match, after slipping and hurting his left knee.

Talking about the Argentine, a former semi-finalist here at the French Open, Murray said that he felt del Potro was one of the players whose ranking belied their game. He also mentioned, “It will be tough [to play against del Potro]. I am sure we will get a good crowd and have a good atmosphere.”