French Open: How the action unfolded

7.45pm The last match out there at Roland Garros is between Arantxa Rus, of the Netherlands, and Kaia Kanepi, which has gone to a third set after the Dutchwoman fought back to take the second 6-4. However, the Lithuanian is a break up in the third, leading 2-0.

7.18pm: This from Rafael Nadal after his crunching - if not humiliating - victory over Monaco. “I felt sorry for him, he was suffering on court,” he said. “I was sad for him. It’s tough to accept that you are losing 6-0, 6-0.”

You’ll notice he didn’t feel sorry enough to let him win a game, though.

7.10pm: Murray will now face David Ferrer in the quarter-final but even the brilliant Spaniard will be fearing Murray. Particularly if the Scot starts rubbing his back at any point.

7.09pm: Murray beats Gasquet 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 6-2
The crowd are making themselves heard, but Murray looks like he’s relishing it, crunching chest-high forehands relentlesss before leading Gasquet on his favourite dance to go 30-0 up. You know how it goes: drop shot, rally, Gasquet watches in slow motion, ball drops softly inside the baseline and Gasquet shrugs in a mixture of resignation and disbelief...

Murray takes it to match point with a backhand pass that forces yet more shrugging and jaw-stretching facial expressions. A drilled forehand down the line seals the win and a celebration as controlled as the win.

7.03pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 5-2 Gasquet
Does Gasquet have the stomach to keep this match going? A lovely drop shot - a little bit of his opponent in that one, perhaps - puts him 15-0 up, before Murray runs round a second serve and crunches a forehand that cleans the baseline. If he stands any closer to return the ball he’ll be shaking hands with Gasquet before the match is even over.

One point - with a ludicrous one-handed backhand retrieving lob at warp speed - has Gasquet frantically trying to run the ball down.

Gasquet at least fights off a break point with one of the rallies of the match but his celebration suggests that he knows his time is nearly up. As if to prove the point Murray sweeps a forehand majestically across court.

But he holds and Murray will have to serve out.

6.56pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 5-1 Gasquet *
This is Murray at his best now. It may not quite be enough to strike fear into the heart of Nadal - not after the way he beat Monaco anyway - but there will be few who will relish facing him. He holds to 15.

6.53pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 4-1 Gasquet
Sensational lob from Murray takes it to 30-all - watch it on the highlights later - before Murray gradually grinds down his opponent. One double fault from the Frenchman sees his legs rather than drive up into the ball sink into the clay as though it were sinking sand.

Another sublime return sets up break point and Murray hammers in the nails with a couple of rasping forehands that almost pin Gasquet to the court.

6.45pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 3-1 Gasquet *
Murray is dropping more balls than a drunken juggler here. Gasquet’s legs - and heart - are starting to look as heavy as the court. On top of the drop shot that got him up and running in this game, Murray then wins with a teasing, tantalising point - drop shot followed by lob, followed by easy volley. Gasquet fills up his cheeks and looks like he could cry.

@neilharmantimes Gasquet stringing errors together quite nicely for British tastes. Murray breaks to lead 2-1 in the 4th.

6.41pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 2-1 Gasquet
Gasquet is starting to unravel. For all Gasquet’s flamboyance - his wild, extravagant swings - he can’t punch his way through Murray’s defence and it’s starting to take its toll as he goes for more. What was a flourish is becoming a flaw and he leaks a couple of errors. Murray wraps up the break with a brilliant, punched two-handed backhand return.

6.37pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-1 Gasquet *
All that effort and passion. And then there’s Murray, for once keeping his emotions on a leash that would make your average dog owner proud. Clinically closes out to love with barely a noise from the cheap seats (and hardly even a rub of that back). Sumptuous drop shot to win the game gets little more than a smattering of applause.

6.36pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 0-1 Gasquet
The crowd are starting to get behind their man as he claims a crucial first hold. Dressed now in red, he’s fist-pumping after almost every point. But that overhead is still causing him problems. Misses a put-away at game point before a slightly wide Murray return (hand goes straight to sore back, obviously) gives him another. This time he makes no mistakes and roars with delight as Murray gropes at a backhand.

6.27pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 Gasquet *
As you can see, we only get the celebration picture out for the big moments. We’re not sure whether it shouldn’t be the flag for the match but - touch wood - we’ll decide that later.

Two sets to one after a couple a mis-timed backhand (yes, that’s not a typo: backhand) gives Murray set point.

6.25pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 5-1 Gasquet
Gasquet is here for a good time, not a long time. He’s hitting with the freedom (and arguably control) of someone playing swingball. But he holds there to love to at least halt the slide.

@neilharmantimes Believe it is not, Rafa is going to have played his match and done all his media before Murray/Gasquet is over #fasttrackNadal

6.24pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 5-0 Gasquet *
Superb stuff from Murray now. Gasquet might as well be driving around in circles on the peripherique. Except this is a guided tour. At 30-0 Murray takes him sideways left and right before dragging him into the net and then lobbing him. Gasquet looks like he’s about to pack up his rackets and go home.

@neilharmantimes It’s nearly as dark here at 7.15 this evening as it was at 9.15 last night when they called Tsknga/Wawrinka

6.19pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 4-0 Gasquet
Gasquet being moved around the court by puppet-master extraordinaire Murray. Frenchman was playing backhands from the lap of the woman in the first row on the second point. Almost. No wonder he then misses an easy approach to go 0-40. Despite a rally, he ditches a backhand into the net to hand Murray a second break.

6.15pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 3-0 Gasquet *
Gasquet is starting to chit chat with his camp in the stands. This will be a real test after all the talk about a new and improved, mentally resilient Frenchman. He’s going through his full range of facial expressions while Murray is going through an equally expansive variety of winners - drop shot, volley, forehand, backhand. 3-0 third set

6.10pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4, 2-0 Gasquet
It’s amazing what a set tucked away neatly under your belt can do. Murray is dominating from the back of the court and it’s Gasquet who is struggling. He misses another one of those swirling smashes after Murray chases down everything like the proverbial labrador. Gasquet then double-faults to give Murray the edge.

6.07pm: Murray 1-6, 6-4, 1-0 Gasquet *
Almost without having had to even toss the ball up and serve, Murray holds to love. Straightforward and signs that the momentum has turned.

6.06pm: Some victory for Nadal there, even by his standards. He’s won the last two sets to love... Ouch.

6.04pm: Murray * 1-6, 6-4 Gasquet
From 40-15 up Gasquet lets it slip to deuce before a cool-as-a-cucumber-in-an-icebath drop shot creates break point for Murray.But a relentless rally of backhands forces a mistake from AM (and of course a little rub of that sore back). Once more, that seems to do the trick. Having been drawn from side to another like a curtain he comes up with a stunning winner for break point before being gifted the break and the set. As you can tell from the picture, that’s good news.

5.57pm: The crowd are starting to get on AM’s case. It might have something to do with that rub of the back. Or it might just be because he’s playing one of their own. But boos all round after that game.

Rafa is still battling on gamely. 6-2, 6-0, 5-0 and serving for the match...

5.56pm: Murray 1-6, 5-4 Gasquet *
Not the backhand as well. Murray puts his favourite two-hander into the net off a regulation ball before overcooking another. 0-30 and he starts holding his back a little. Wonder what Virginia Wade has to say about that one...

But clearly he plays better when he’s crock. Tennis’s very own Gordon Greenidge. Three emphatic points take him to 40-30 before Gasquet takes it to deuce.

Another couple of backhand cross-courts are ditched into the net and greeted with a rub of the back, but Murray holds on. Just.

5.47pm: Murray * 1-6, 4-4 Gasquet
Gasquet holds emphatically, with his second ace delivered down the middle.

@neilharmantimes I want to watch that lob forever. And Andy’s response to it....

5.40pm: Murray 1-6, 4-3 Gasquet *
Don’t like the look of that, shades of the first set as Murray puts another forehand into the net and it goes to deuce. An unbelievable shallow lob creates break point - nothing wrong with the approach there - but Murray shuts the door with a booming ace. But that forehand is still bleeding mistakes like the open wound it’s becoming. Profusely. Not content with gifting Gasquet the break point, he then ditches another forehand into the net.

Elsewhere it’s 6-0 to Rafa in the second as he continues to cruise.

5.35pm: Murray * 1-6, 4-2 Gasquet
That’s more like it. Whoop, whoop. An error-free game at last and Murray has the break.

Clearly, we’re impartial here at The Times. Despite that flag. And the tone of this post.

5.31pm: Just to update that. Rafa is now 5-0 up #easydayattheoffice

5.30pm: Murray 1-6, 3-2 Gasquet *
That’s more like it. Murray holds again, with little to report. It’s fair to say he’s not having it as easy as Rafa, though. The short-tugging Spaniard is 4-0 up in the second set and with one eye on an early finish.

5.25pm: Murray * 1-6, 2-2 Gasquet
The look of relief as Gasquet makes a high smash says it all. He’s still not forgotten that retrieve from Murray. It’s important, too, as he holds serve and nerve.

5.20pm: Murray 1-6, 2-1 Gasquet *
Relief as Murray gets a foothold in the match at last. Another comfortable hold with little to report - apart from one ludicrous backhand return from Gasquet that he plays while jumping a foot off the ground and about three feet inside the baseline. But we’ll gloss over that, for the sake of morale. 2-1, that’s all you need to know.

@neilharmantimes Didn’t Murray lose the first set 6-1 on this court in the second round and win?#lookonthebrightside

5.16pm: Murray* 1-6, 1-1 Gasquet
Gasquet prepares his racket like he’s a baton twirler, flicking his wrist dramatically before every shot. Not that it stops him, it just means he wins points with a flourish. Holds to 15 there.

5.14pm: Nadal has taken the first set in his match against Monaco, 6-2

5.12pm: Murray 1-6, 1-0 Gasquet *
When in doubt get out the drop shot. Backhand drop puts him on his way, before a regulation hold to 15.

@neilharmantimes First set goes by in 28 minutes. 6-1 Gasquet. I think we need rain

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5.07pm: Murray 1 Gasquet 6
That’s the first set. Less said about it the better from Murray’s point of vew. Despite the occasional flash of brilliance from the Brit, Gasquet drills a backhand down the line to win the first set in only half an hour.

5.05pm: Murray 1 Gasquet 5
That’s another break point for Gasquet after another long rally, Murray ditching a forehand into the net for an(other) error. An error from Gasquet gets it back to deuce before (yet)an(other) error opens the door again.

That’s 5-1 as the first set drifts away with another forehand clattering into the net from AM. Clear that Gasquet wants to vary his court position, returning from deep behind the baseline before stepping in to take the ball on the rise.

4.59pm: Murray 1 Gasquet 4
Looks like that recovery from Murray earlier has got inside Gasquet’s head a little. A blown Gasquet, I guess I’m obliged to say. He’s just missed an easy put-away, touching the net with a smash after getting too close in a bid to finish it off.

But a Murray drop shot - for all those who had game five in the sweepstake, it was his first of the day - is put away and a good serve sets up another fluid backhand winner. 4-1 and time for a sitdown.

4.55pm: Murray 1 Gasquet 3
Murray is starting to swing a bid more freely now. A winner off the forehand and then a net cord put him 30-0 before a ludicrous backhand winner for Gasquet is a reminder of how he took the final two sets off Tommy Haas without losing a game. But Murray closes out the game to get off the mark.

@neilharmantimes Incredible retrieving from Murray under two smashes. Wins the point, too. A release

Despite heroics on one point, Murray trails 3-0. Gasquet got his head together well after that remarkable point.

4.50pm: Murray 0 Gasquet 3
The Frenchman takes advantage of Murray’s seventh unforced error to go 40-0. But Murray plays quite possibly the defensive point of the millennium to stay in the game. He virtually needed a leg up from the second row as he retrieved succcessive smashes, leaping high to swot the ball back, like a basketball player trying to defend a shot, both feet off the ground. Guess the back is holding up then.

Sadly he can’t build on the momentum as Gasquet holds, but that fetch will have got the Frenchman thinking. It’s a reminder that he will have to win every point.

4.45pm: Murray 0 Gasquet 2
That’s some way short of the ideal start for the Brit. A searing forehand, set up by a rhythmic exchanges of backhands, gifts the Frenchman three break points. He holds the first one with an ace out wide to the backhand court, before bringing it back to 30-40 with a rasping forehand winner from deep behind the baseline. But all that work wasted with a second serve that almost landed on Gasquet’s feet. Double fault and first break.

4.40pm: Murray 0 Gasquet 1
The Frenchman holds to love with Murray netting a trio of backhands. Slow start as he gets the pace of the balls and court.

4.37pm: Gasquet has never reached the last four in Paris. This will be a test of nerve as much as anything else. But if there are doubts about his mental fortitude, there will be as many questions about Murray’s back.

@neilharmantimes Murray’s grey shirt matches the sky. It is as dark as a January afternoon in Dunblane

@neilharmantimes Suffice to say that Andy Murray did not get a generous welcome from the Paris crowd. Booed into court!!

4.31pm: It’s so cold out there that even the line judges are having to do some warm-ups. Slow conditions here.

4.25pm: The question now is how Murray will handle these windy conditions. On the one hand that second serve has never needed much to blow it off course, but on the other you’d think his groundstrokes would hold up more solidly than Gasquet’s with their huge Gallic flourishes.

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4.20pm: Result Zakopalova almost knocked off her tiny feet by that backhand from Sharapova. That’s match point... and the third set is sealed with a double-fault. Sad to say but that’s probably a fitting way to end a match in which holds were few and far between. Like a wrestling match in oil. It finishes 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2.

The Russian second seed faces Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi or Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands for a place in the semi-finals. It may not have been a great performance, but with Li Na going out only minutes earlier, Sharapova will be delighted.

4.15pm: I know, this will astonish you. But Sharapova’s been broken while serving for the match. A big double-fault on break point will only rub it in, but there have been more breaks here than in your average A&E ward. Don’t think Sharapova will want to serve this out...

4.10pm: Sharapova on the brink, serving for the match...

3.57pm: The Kazakh’s victory is undoubtedly a shock but perhaps we shouldn’t be so surprised.

In fact, if Li is looking for a few excuses when she’s explaining her defeat to her billion or so fans, here’s a start: Shvedova’s been ranked as high as No 29 and has reached the quarters at Roland Garros in 2010. She also reached the last four in the semi-finals in Paris, defying a fairly ordinary grand-slam tournament record - the only other place she’s reached the third round in singles is Flushing Meadows. And it was windy.

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3.55pm: Result Shvedova came through qualifying just to be here. You’d think the occasion might get the better of her but she’s held her nerve to get across the line. Jubilant celebrations after sealing a 6-3, 2-6, 0-6 victory after another unforced error from Li Na.

3.53pm: That would count as an upset. Li Na is the only woman left in the field to have won here. She’s just saved two match points against Yaroslava Shvedova, but it’s a long way back from here.

3.50pm: Sharapova’s got a break of serve. But that’s not really news. What is really exciting is that she’s held twice. 3-0

And while we’ve been obsessing about all that it looks like Li Na is on the brink. She’s 0-5 in the fifth. More on that in a moment.

3.30pm: Oh dear ... that forehand return didn’t even make the tramlines. Second set to Zakopalova, 7-5 in the tie-break. Any bets on how many holds of serve we’ll get in the final set? One? Two?

@neilharmantimes I think Maria’s got the right ump

3.22pm: A bit of controversy. Sharapova pauses midway through the point because she thinks the ball is out but plays on to clean up. But the umpire goes down and inspects the mark. 0-2 to Zakopalova

3.20pm: Who’d have thought it? Another break. Tie-break here we come. 6-6

3.11pm: Three break points for Sharapova but the Zak fights back gutsily from the back of the court, stepping inside the baseline to drive through the ball and save all three. But a fierce forehand return gives Sharapova another break point before a raking backhand winner secures another break. Or a hold of a break.

Just in case you didn’t get the point earlier, only four out of 21 games have gone with serve so it’ll be something of a surprise if she can serve out from here.

3.08pm: That makes it 15 breaks out of 20 games as Sharapova capitulates on serve. 5-5 in second set.

3.05pm: Match update Murray will be back on his feet now. Shara serving for the match after breaking. Don’t think he’ll be taking anything for granted just yet, mind. Neither player has won more than 35 per cent of points on their second serve.

2.51pm: Zakopalova gives it an Elvis lip curl as she puts a forehand winner away. Sharapova had broken back to re-take command of the set but the Zak responds immediately on Sharapova’s serve to level the set at 4-4.

Britain’s Kyle Edmund is through to the boys’ singles third round after beating France’s Maxime Tchoutakian 7-6, 6-3.

2.44pm: Match update Looks like Murray can sit back down again. Zakopalova has just broken back, to love. Could be ten minutes away from his warm-up. Or 1hr 10min.

2.38pm: Match update Murray will probably be doing a few stretches right now. Sharapova is a break up and looking good for a straight-sets victory.

2.30pm: Match update Li Na wins the first set against the bespectacled Yaroslava Shvedova, 6-3. Shvedova, 24, was born in Moscow and indeed still lives there, but changed her nationality to Kazakhstani in 2008 as part of the country’s attempt to boost its sporting profile.

2.06pm: Match update That clenched fist means that Sharapova has held her serve to win the first set. The No 2 seed was taken to deuce, though, so suggest that Andy Murray not start tying his shoelaces just yet. 6-4, Zakopalova to serve.

Incidentally, if Sharapova reaches the final as expected she’ll reclaim the world No 1 ranking.

2pm: match update Sharapova serving for the set at 5-2, but a bit of a wobble there as she drops serve. Zakopalova holds to force the Russian to serve it out again.

@neilharmantimes GSM Delpo in four sets over Berdych. A significant win for Juan Martin who plays The Fed tomorrow. How will his dodgy knee hold?

The Berd said to me a couple of weeks ago that he prefers his prospects on grass rather than clay. More than a Wimbledon outsider

1.45pm: David Ferrer says his win over Marcel Granollers was partly due to him coping better with pressure than he has done in the past.

“In 2012 I’ve felt really good. I have to continue on this same path,” he said. “I have to remain calm, like I am at present. In doing that, I’ll better manage my stress. And also, I think I’ll manage more things if I remain calm. This has helped me considerably. I can play at ease now at Roland Garros. Okay, reaching the semis is not that easy, because it’s not just up to me. Maybe I will need a little luck.”

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1.36pm: Result And that’s that. From nowhere, Del Potro breaks to love to secure the victory in four sets. He’ll face Roger Federer tomorrow

1.29pm: Match update This one is going to the wire. 6-5 in the fourth on serve after Del Potro holds nerve and serve. Sharapova is off to a fast start in her match. The Russian is 3-1 up and making plenty of noise about it. Tough conditions with the wind gusting up which could be a test for Sharapova’s service action.

1.16pm: Match update Del Potro is still two games away from victory, although it probably seems a lot farther away now: Berdych has just broken him. 4-3 fourth set.

1.09pm: Match update Del Potro a break up in the fourth set, but forced to save a break point as Berdych starts to find his rhythm. Holds serve to go 4-2 up and move to within two games of the quarter-finals.

1pm: Maria Sharapova doing her Darth Vader impression as she takes to the Philippe Chatrier court dressed head to toe in black. Klara Zakopalova is in more colourful attire, opting for pink.

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12.50pm: Result: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is through to meet Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals after polishing off Stanislas Wawrinka when their five-set match resumed today. Tsonga was 4-2 up in the final set and although he lost the first game of the day on his own serve, he won the following three, breaking Wawrinka twice to complete a 6-4, 7-6, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 win.

@neilharmantimes: Feel for @stanwawrinka At 4-0 in 4th last night, did not make enough of momentum. Did all he could today but sometimes it is meant to be

12.40pm: Juan Martin del Potro and Tomas Berdych are resuming their match on Court Suzanne Lenglen at 7-6 1-6 6-3. Here’s Brad Gilbert again:

@bgtennisnation: Looking forward to this 4th set with Delpo and the birdman I am sure there will be some thunder hitting in this one

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12.30pm: Result: Nicolas Almagro is also into quarter-finals on Monday with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 win over Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia. The No 12 seed will play Rafael Nadal or Juan Monaco.

@neilharmantimes Great experience for Josh Ward-Hibbert, warming up Rafa for his match this afternoon. #hittingwiththestars

12.27pm: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Stanislas Wawrinka have resumed their five-set encounter on Philippe Chatrier. Tsonga led 4-2 but immediately lost his first service game and it’s back on serve at 4-3.

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12.15pm: Result: David Ferrer is through to the quarter-finals after a comfortable win over Marcel Granollers, his Spanish compatriot, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. Granollers simply crumbled (sorry) in that final set. Ferrer will play Andy Murray or Richard Gasquet...

12pm: Yes, we found a Union flag. And for good reason, because Liam Broady has just won his first round match in the boys singles against Karim Hossam of Egypt. The score: 6-4, 7-5. Broady broke Hossam crucially in the final game of the match.

11.46am: Match update: It’s all going to plan for David Ferrer, the No 6 seed, who is now two sets to the good against his Spanish compatriot Marcel Granollers, and a break of serve ahead in the third. It’s currently 6-3, 6-2, 1-0.

@neilharmantimes: Ferrer leads Granollers two sets to love, moving along nicely on Chatrier. Weather gloomy but hopefully not irredeemably so

11.35am: Match update: Liam Broady is a set up on Karim Hossam in the boys singles, winning it 6-4, but the second set has so far gone with serve and is finely balanced at 5-5.

11.12am: Gasquet has gone a bit Jose Mourinho on us with his musings ahead of the Andy Murray match:

“When I was nine, when I was 16, they said I’m a genius,” the No 17 seed said. “I’m used to that. But I need to give everything I have. I need to do my best. That’s the most important thing. You want to give your best, and the crowd is supporting you from the beginning until the end. That’s a beautiful emotion, playing on such a big court and giving everything you have for people.”

11.10am: Almagro has taken the first set off Tipsarevic, 6-4.

10.35am: Here’s a brief outline of what else is going on today.

Court Philippe Chatrier
David Ferrer v Marcel Granollers
To finish - Stanislas Wawrinka v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
Klara Zakopalova v Maria Sharapova
Richard Gasquet v Andy Murray
Varvara Lepchencko v Petra Kvitova

Court Suzanne Lenglen
Janko Tipsaervic v Nicolas Almagro
To finish - Juan Martin del Potro v Tomas Berdych
Li Na v Yaroslava Shvedova
Juan Monaco v Rafael Nadal
Arantxa Rus v Kaia Kanepi

10.21am: Murray isn’t the only Briton in action today. Liam Broady is playing Egypt’s Karim Hossam in the first round of the boys singles and has made a fine start, leading 3-0 in the first set.

First tweet of the day comes from Brad Gilbert, Andy Murray’s former coach, who is watching the fourth round match between Almagro and Tipsarevic on Court Suzanne Lenglen. He tweets: “almagro and Tispy have come back on the court rough at here high 50’s and good breeze ATM, can you say very slow track today.”

10am: Welcome to The Times’s coverage of day nine of the French Open, with Andy Murray aiming to reach the quarter-finals at the expense of Richard Gasquet today. Murray will not only have Gasquet to overcome, however, as the Frenchman will have the backing of his home crowd on Court Philippe Chatrier. We’ll bring you all the action from that match plus those involving Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Petra Kvitova and David Ferrer.