Gonzalez too hot for Andy Murray

Andy Murray's French Open ended yesterday when he was comfortably beaten by Fernando Gonzalez in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. The young Scot was overwhelmed 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-4 by Gonzalez, who will go on to face Robin Soderling in the semi-finals on Friday.

The Chilean clay-court expert was too strong for Murray, who was making his first appearance at this stage of the competition, and Gonzalez used all his experience and his forehand to good effect.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Stephen Bierley, the Guardian: "The Gonzalez forehand is a huge weapon on any surface, a red blooded stroke of thunderous intensity. It was to Murray's great credit, and his prodigious defensive ability, that he often returned it, though the effort undoubtedly took its toll. And the Chilean is not a one-trick pony. Interspersed with the venom are moments of wonderful finesse. One backhand dropped on Murray's side of the court and spun back into the net before he could lay a racket on it."

Neil Harman, the Times: "Fernando Gonzalez, of Chile, the junior champion here 11 years ago and the oldest player left in the field at 28, reached his first semi-final at the French Open because he chose this day to perform in the manner of the champion he may well become this weekend. Murray, in his past four defeats at these 'majors', has found himself on the wrong end of four men - Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, Roger Federer at the US Open, Fernando Verdasco in Australia and Gonzalez yesterday - in shuddering form."

Mark Hodgkinson, Daily Telegraph: "By the time that Fernando and his forehand had completed their work on Court Philippe Chatrier, there was a dustbin full of very tired looking tennis balls, and a very tired looking British tennis player. There is only so long that you can play a game of fetch on red clay for. The sweet, sweet violence off Gonzalez's strings was what ended Murray's hopes of winning a tournament that was thrown wide open when Rafael Nadal lost in the fourth round on Sunday." ·