Briton Andy Murray survived a rollercoaster ride into the quarter-finals of the Toronto Masters with a wild 6-2, 0-6, 6-3 win over Frenchman Gael Monfils on Thursday.
While the muscular Monfils was throwing his body across center court diving for shots, the fourth-seeded Murray was a pillar of calm, taking the swings in momentum in stride to move a step closer to a successful defense of his Canadian crown.
"It's fun to watch," Murray admitted to reporters.
"He's very entertaining to watch, but diving on a hardcourt, unless it's a grand slam final, I don't know if it's worth the risk," he added.
Murray's next opponent will be resurgent Argentine David Nalbandian, who is playing consistent tennis since returning from a hamstring injury that kept him out for two months.
Since returning last month in Davis Cup play, Nalbandian has been in inspired form reeling off a career best 11 straight wins, including a gritty 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 victory over Swede Robin Soderling earlier on Thursday.
Murray, who must reach Sunday's final to keep Soderling from claiming his number four ranking, has faced the tenacious Argentine twice before and lost both matches.
"He's very tough," said Murray.
"He's a very, very good player, on his day, one of the best in the world and it's going to be tough," he added.
Murray cannot afford any of the lapses in concentration against Nalbandian that he displayed against Monfils.
After racing to a 4-0 lead and easily taking the opening set, Murray disappeared in the second and let his French opponent back into the match.
But just as quickly as Murray unraveled in the second he was able to pull it back together in the third.
"You just move on from it," said Murray when asked about his second set disappearing act.
"It's not something you sort of dwell on.
"That's the thing with tennis. At the end of the set, you can kind of regroup and start again and I managed to do that," he added.
