Cincinnati Open 2015: Andy Murray saves match point to defeat Grigor Dimitrov

Murray won 4-6, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5

Andy Murray celebrates his win over Grigor Dimitrov (GETTY IMAGES)

Britain's Andy Murray conjured up an unlikely three-set victory over Grigor Dimitrov to reach the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Open.

The newly-promoted world number two was broken by his Bulgarian opponent in the very first game of a three-hour encounter and only just managed to drag 16th seed Dimitrov back from a double-break lead to draw level in the eighth game of the second set.

Murray then forced a decider by comfortably winning a tie-break but the tide would turn against the Scot once again.

The 2013 Wimbledon champion was a break up after two games, yet Dimitrov rallied to win five straight games, wresting back the initiative before a crucial, fascinating 32nd game.

The Bulgarian looked more than ready to break Murray and seal his progress, enjoying two match points during a frantic display of rallying and cross-court counter-punching, but it was not to be.

Murray somehow held his serve, broke Dimitrov, and held once more to clinch a 6-4 6-7 (3/7) 7-5 victory.

A sixth career win over Dimitrov means Murray, whose triumph at the Rogers Cup saw him leapfrog Roger Federer in the battle to replace Novak Djokovic at the top of the ATP Rankings, gets the opportunity to face French number two Richard Gasquet in the last eight at the Lindner Family Tennis Center.

PA