IN BADLY fading light last night Andy Murray produced one of the most gutsy performances of his career. The 21-year-old Scot came back from two sets down and with his opponent Richard Gasquet serving for the match to win 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-4 in just under four hours.

"That is the best moment I ever had on a tennis court," said Murray. "The crowd were amazing and to come back from two sets down when I looked like I was down and out was amazing.

"To be on a court like that was a privilege. I think he got a little bit nervous towards the end of the third set. Once I won that third set his head went down and he tired and I ran away with it a little."

Murray faces Raphael Nadal in the quarter-final, the first time a British player has been that far in a Grand Slam event since 2004 when Tim Henman made the run. Initially, there was little evidence of the Frenchman's much-touted mental frailty, his whipping backhand causing Murray serious difficulties, especially in the final game where he fought off a series of set points before an attempted drop shot, spinning furiously, fell just wide for 7-5.

Murray would have been both bolstered by his ability to hit defensive winners from difficult angles and also concerned that Gasquet was returning well and holding his own serve with some ease. That concern did not take long to be translated into points and Murray instantly dropped his first service game in the second set as the busy and wonderfully athletic Gasquet fizzed off to a 3-0 lead before claiming the set.

Gasquet at that stage was tearing Murray apart and, taking the third break point on Murray's serve at 4-4 in the third set, Gasquet found himself serving for the match. But he wavered for the first time, handed Murray three break points and double-faulted for 5-5. From there Murray took the set on a tiebreak and changed the whole complexion of the match.

Murray seemed to suck energy from the crowd and immediately Gasquet felt it as he was crushed in the fourth set for 6-2. Murray then held the momentum and broke the Frenchman's serve early in the second and not just hung in but determined the tempo and shape of the match until past twilight.

Finally Murray was asked to serve for the match in the fifth set as Gasquet visibly tired. When he finally blasted the winning serve that almost took Gasquet's racquet from his grasp, the world number 11 turned to the cheering crowd, pulled up his shirt sleeve and flexed his biceps. Strength and fortitude, certainly. It was Murray's night but he will need both in spades against Nadal.

The extremities of the draw, where the top seeds hang, had a familiar look about it with both title-holder Roger Federer and French open champion Nadal advancing without the loss of a set. Nadal generated considerable concern when he jerked his knee sliding on the grass and was forced to seek the attention of a trainer.

But he played on with strapping around the top of his calf before going on to impressively beat Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. The Spaniard, however, is cautious and said that he heard a crack behind the knee but that the initial tests he had with the trainer after the match were positive. Nadal, however, reserved the right to see how his leg reacted to a night's rest.

"I felt a little bit of pain," he said. I was a little bit scared because I felt something, a crack behind the knee. But I think it's fine. A bad movement."

Federer's 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over an injured Lleyton Hewitt indicated little about Federer. It was a painless and tidy win and one that brings the champion up against Mario Ancic, the last person to beat him on grass.

The Croatian, a natural serve and volley player, came back from two sets down against Fernando Verdsaco in a marathon to win 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 13-11. Ancic, who also played through pain with a leg injury, dismissed the result of his meeting with the champion back in 2002. "He was not Roger Federer at that time," said Ancic. "Of course I can sit here and tell stories of how I beat Roger Federer but actually it wasn't Roger Federer as we know him today."

Marat Safin also come through. Safin is fast becoming the neutral punter's favourite and has played well above his 75 ranking in the world. Yesterday was a four-set win, 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 over Stansilas Wawrinka, which sets him up with a quarter-final meeting with Spain's Feliciano Lopez.