Murray reaches Metz Open quarter-finals

METZ, France, Oct 4 (Reuters) Briton Andy Murray eased into the Metz Open quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Frenchman Michael Llodra today.

The third-seeded Scot needed only one hour and 11 minutes to see off the crowd favourite and next plays either German Philipp Kohlschreiber or France's Jo Wilfried Tsonga.

Murray, whose season has been hampered by a wrist injury, broke in the ninth game of the first set after the umpire ruled a point in his favour and never looked back.

''When we were at 4-4, 0-40, he saved two break points with good serves,'' Murray told a news conference. ''On the third, my forehand passing shot is called out but the umpire changes the decision in my favour and I think he was right.

''Then, I had the feeling that Llodra was not into the match any more,'' added the world number 18.

Second seed Guillermo Canas of Argentina also qualified with a 7-6 7-6 win over Austrian Juergen Melzer after two hours and 18 minutes.

Austria's Stefan Koubek was disqualified for comments he made to the tournament supervisor during his match with Sebastien Grosjean of France.

Koubek was leading the second-round encounter 5-7 7-6 4-2 when supervisor Thomas Karlberg ordered the umpire to disqualify him.

''On the first point of the seventh game, on Grosjean's serve, a Koubek forehand close to the baseline gave a 0-15 advantage to Koubek,'' Karlberg told a news conference.

''But the umpire realised Grosjean was in the way of the line judge, who was therefore unable to judge the point. In this case, the rule is to replay the point.

''Koubek disagreed and asked for the supervisor's intervention.

He did not want to accept the rules and used strong language. I told him the match was over and asked the umpire to announce it.'' Grosjean next faces top seed Tommy Robredo of Spain in the quarter-finals.

REUTERS SBA AS0325