Kukushkin retires; into QF's
Monday, January 23, 2012
Photograph by Getty
Andy has moved comfortably through to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after Mikhail Kukushkin retired from their fourth round match trailing 6-1 6-1 1-0.
The Kazakh had called for the trainer in the first set, but his condition noticeably deteriorated as the match went on and after just 50 minutes he had to pull the plug.
With temperatures soaring once again in Melbourne, Andy will have been happy to be back in some air-con as his next opponent Kei Nishikori battled past Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets.
“I played him a few weeks ago at Brisbane and it was three tough sets and I expected another tough one today,” said a grateful Andy post-match.
“I hadn’t seen him play before Brisbane and he hit some huge shots early and had me work. It was hot on the court and it is good for me that I have conserved energy. It is tough for him for that to happen in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.”
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