Andy Murray will attempt to play through his ankle injury once again when he takes on Argentina’s Juan Ignacio Chela in the quarter-finals of the French Open on Wednesday.The Briton revealed after Tuesday’s fourth-round win against Viktor Troicki that a scan over the weekend had shown a partial tear to one of the tendons in his right ankle, following his earlier match against Michael Berrer.But fourth seed Murray still managed to come back from two sets down to beat Troicki, over two days, to be one win from a first semi-final at Roland Garros.Wednesday’s quarter-final is scheduled as the second match on Court Suzanne Lenglen, with coverage on BBC Two from 1500 BST.That the unseeded Chela was waiting in the last eight proved a significant incentive for Murray, who has beaten the 31-year-old Argentine for the last two years running in Paris, and six times out of seven meetings in all.“I have a very good record against him and he had a very long match [in the fourth round],” said Murray. “Knowing that probably added a bit more pressure and nerves [against Troicki] but he [Chela] plays very well on clay, he’s a tough guy.”When I played him last year, it was a tough match, a lot of long games. That was one of my first experiences of the rain delay, coming back the following day. He’s a tough player and one that I’ve played well against in the past. I need to do the same again tomorrow.”If there is hope for Chela, it might centre on Murray’s right ankle, which the Scot openly admitted hampered his movement against Troicki.”Pushing off for a serve is quite tough, and then moving out to my forehand because that’s normally where you want to slide,” said the 24-year-old. “I felt pretty rigid moving out there a lot of times.”Chela had already been planning to keep the ball away from Murray’s backhand, recognised as one of the best in the game, and he seems certain now to play to the forehand.”He’s an excellent player,” said the world number 34. “I think I should play on his right-hand side so that he won’t take control of the match because he’s a player who can play really excellently.”You have to play deep balls, and he’s used to playing on these courts. He is one of the best players in the world.”
Murray has taken pills for the ankle and had two scans, all the while icing it, and is aware that another slip could damage his hopes not only at Roland Garros, but for the important weeks ahead during the grass-court season.”The problem is, if you go over on the ankle again then that’s dangerous because obviously it’s weak just now,” said Murray. “To go over on it again would be an issue.”The prize for the winner will be a semi-final against either Rafael Nadal or Robin Soderling, with their quarter-final – a repeat of last year’s final – scheduled second on Court Philippe Chatrier.Li Na and Victoria Azarenka open play in the main stadium at 1300 BST, with the remaining women’s quarter-final between Maria Sharapova and Andrea Petkovic starting play on Court Suzanne Lenglen. – BBC
