Tuesday 9 August 2016 23:49, UK
Andy Murray continued his comfortable progress at the Rio Olympics with a straight sets win over Juan Monaco in the second round of the men's singles.
British No 1 Johanna Konta also progressed to the quarter-finals, but had to battle back from a set down to complete a gruelling 3-6 7-5 7-5 win over eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Konta staged a spirited response in the second set and finally converted her fourth match point to defeat the experienced Russian in a match that lasted three hours and seven minutes.
Murray, the defending Olympic champion, had earlier easily controlled his Argentinian opponent during a one-sided 6-3 6-1 victory.
The Scot, who swept side Viktor Troicki in his opening match, was broken in the first set but this was a brief moment of concern for Murray, who immediately broke back and raced through the second set to seal victory.
He no longer has to worry about world No 1 Novak Djokovic, who suffered a shock first-round exit, and will next face either Italy's Fabio Fognini or Frenchman Benoit Paire in the last-16.
On the sun-soaked hard court, both Murray and Monaco traded crisp ground strokes, but the British No 1 was having the final word in their rallies and wrong footed his opponent to move 2-0 up.
The Argentine gained a break of his own following a sweetly-struck angled forehand, although this served only to enliven the Scot, who powered into a 5-2 lead and quickly pocketed the set.
Murray had gained the measure of Monaco and added two more breaks on the way to a commanding 4-0 lead.
The Wimbledon men's title holder conceded just one more game before completing victory and clenched his fist after the final stray return from Monaco.
Konta, who will link up with Andy's older brother Jamie in the mixed doubles, expressed her relief after coming through a dramatic match with Kuznetsova.
Having failing to serve out the match at 5-3 in the decider, the 25-year-old recovered from 0-40 at 5-5, before eventually setting up a quarter-final match with either second seed Angelique Kerber or Australia's Sam Stosur.
"I've been very fortunate so far in my career that I've been a part of so many spectacular matches," said Konta.
"That definitely ranks up there just because it's my first Olympics. I feel pretty lucky and privileged that I get another chance tomorrow."
