Andy Murray beats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

Novak Djokovic says that Murray has "been on and off this year", but that the quarter-final match - a repeat of the 2012 US Open final - will be "very high quality tennis".

He tells Sky Sports, ominously, that he feels "very confident on the court".

The match stats reflect Murray's total dominance over his French opponent. Murray hit 45 winners to Tsonga's 32 and made only 18 unforced errors, compared with 43 by the Frenchman.

And despite Tsonga's pre-match criticisms of Murray's service power, the Scot's average first serve speed of 119mph was only two mph slower than his opponent's. Murray also served 11 aces to Tsonga's six.

"As encouraging as Murray's form was his fitness, which didn't appear to waver during two hours and 35 minutes of oppressive heat and humidity. Meanwhile, over on Armstrong the seemingly unstoppable Eugenie Bouchard was brought to tears at one stage as she suffered badly in the conditions on her way to defeat. It's highly likely the Murray-Djokovic quarter-final will be in the relative cool of Wednesday's night session."

Andrew Neill: Best performance we've seen from Andy since he won at Wimbledon last year. Steely showing and raised his game when needed.

Charles Nurick: Great win for Murray. Always seems to produce his best when people are expecting him to struggle, much like vs Raonic in 2012.

Shohidur Rahman: Even though Murray beat Tsonga in straight sets he has no chance against Djokovic. Easy win for Novak.

Murray will be delighted to have got a monkey off his back by beating a player ranked in the top 10 for the first time since his Wimbledon triumph in 2013. His reward? A meeting with world number one Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Andy Murray on Sky Sports: "I though offensively I played well, kept him on the back foot, away from the net. I think was at the net more than him and that was important. He had chances in the second and third sets, but I was happy to come through.

"I always try to take the return early on second serve and I knew that would make Joe go for more huge first serves. He did that and served a couple of doubles - that helped."

"It was a great performance by Andy. I know he's going to sleep well tonight, but not because he's so tired but because he's got that first top-10 win in a year. It's a whole new ball game and there's no pressure on him whatsoever. He can really shine in this next match."

Andy Murray: "It was extremely tough. I'm just glad I managed to get through. The third set was tougher. His serve is huge and thankfully he missed a few serves in the end."

On his quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic: "It's a tough match. We've had a lot of long ones, there's normally a lot of rallies. I hope we can play another top-level match but if I play well I have a chance."

"There's no sprinting to the net after that match, both players were completely exhausted. Tsonga had so many more unforced errors. Tsonga got oppressed by the conditions."

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Murray looks relieved more than anything as he removes his cap to reveal a very sweaty crop of hair. He shakes hands with his opponent then acknowledges the crowds applause. That has to go down as one of the British number one's best performances in quite some time.

At 40-0, Murray gifts Tsonga a lifeline, corrects his own error with an ace down the middle to move within one game of the match. We've been playing for exactly two and a half hours on a sweltering afternoon in New York.

Laura Lambert: With Djokovic to face next, who had an easy win, Murray needs to make sure he sees this out in 3, especially in these conditions.

GL: Nice work Andy. Keep the points short and get the job done in 3. Early bed this evening would be nice!!

Murray's girlfriend Kim Sears is wearing a top with the word "DREAM" written across it, and her beau is daring to do exactly that as he scents a quarter-final showdown with Novak Djokovic. Tsonga reminds him that's there still work to do though as he holds to 15 for 4-4.

"I really don't envy either player in this situation because both are definitely hurting. They look like they're in pain, like they're living in Jupiter - the gravity pull is pulling them into their chairs. Did you see them plopping into their chairs?"

Murray's serving blip is well and truly over. He's finding the first serves again, finding the corners again, and seals a hold to love with a drop shot that has more sideways spin than a Shane Warne googly.

What a shot! Murray anticipates a Tsonga smash and, while running at full pelt, leathers it for a winner across the Frenchman. Tsonga is 0-30 down, but shows great spirit to reel off four consecutive points and keep us on serve.

"I really feel Murray is in a nice commanding position and needs to be more docile about his attitude - but more emphatic with his shots. If you're half a mile ahead in a 10k, don't exaggerate your emotions."

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What a turnaround. Murray holds with consummate ease and now holds the edge in this third set.

A sweetly-sliced backhand from Murray stays too low for Tsonga, who falls 0-30 down. A backhand pass gives Murray three break points, and he needs only one as Tsonga pushes a backhand wide. Murray, staring at a double break just moments ago, is right back in this third set.

Worrying medical time out for seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard in her game against Ekaterina Makarova.

She's having her blood pressure taken in the sweltering New York heat, is taking salt tablets and there's tears in her eyes as bags of ice are run down her arms to try and bring down her temperature.

Bouchard lost the first set 7-6 to her Russian opponent and is 3-2 down, with serve, in the second.

Thankfully, it looks like she'll continue.

Tsonga has the proverbial bit between his teeth now and is really going for his shots on the Murray serve. He passes Murray at the net then greets a second serve with a disdainful return winner to get himself a break point.

Murray staves off the danger, but after working his socks off to earn a game point, he serves a double fault. Two more break points are saved, the second with an ace before Murray can finally stumble over the line.

Now then, another big test for Murray. Little chance of a comeback just yet though as Tsonga opens up a 40-0 lead with some huge serves then wins the game when Murray's return flies wide.

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Both players left the court at the end of the second set for a comfort break, but both have returned so, to paraphrase Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, we go again.

Tsonga stepping in from the baseline on the Murray second serve and the Frenchman punishes the Briton, eking a 15-30 advantage. Impressive scampering from Murray, though, scooting to the net to level at 30-30.

But Murray coughs up a double fault to present Tsonga with a break point and Murray embarks on one of his angry monologues. Tsonga ruthless from the baseline on a Murray second serve and takes his chance!

Hashim Albahbahani: Tsonga is so frustrating to watch! How in the world did he lose that set?

Chris Rhydderch: Andy Murray now 2 sets up but it's traditional that he'll now lose the 3rd!!

"Andy is playing really good tennis, but he's so unpredictable physically. He's grunting and groaning, holding his back. It's tough to read what he's really feeling out there. Because of the humidity and the conditions, the players are so moody. So many ups and downs emotionally."

Tsonga reacts to the danger of falling 15-30 behind with a 128mph ace, then puts away a smash after watching Murray somehow hang on deep into a point that was never his to win. Murray catches Tsonga unawares with a looped return into the forehand corner and we're at deuce.

Murray seems to be in pain here as he holds his ribs, but there's little effect on his game as two more fine returns earn him a break point. Make that three fine returns of serve! Tsonga can't handle the pace on Murray's forehand and the British number one is one set away from the quarter-finals.

"I think Jo-Wilfried Tsonga deserves a tie-break and I think this set deserves a tie-break."

A cleverly-worked point from Murray earns the approval of coach Amelie Mauresmo, who sports a light-weight pink T-shirt at she watches her charge. Even Tsonga applauds Murray when he flies across the court to get his racquet to what looked a sure-fire winner and places a backhand into the court.

Tom: Murray playing a blinding few games, needed to fight fire with fire and stepped up.

Chris Braithwaite: Murray just stepped it up a gear. Wow. These boys hit the ball so hard.

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Tsonga has removed his pesky cap, and is now exposing his noggin to the sweltering sun. The Frenchman's serve seems to have recovered some of its zip as he holds to 15, sealing the game with an emphatic overhead. At 5-5 in the second set, we're into a key phase of the match.

"Come on, Jo Jo!" There's plenty of support around Ashe for the Tsonga comeback, with the stands continuing to fill up at each changeover, but the blistering run of points that saw Murray break back and then hold serve had the New Yorkers on their feet and fist pumping like the days of Connors.

Murray is pumped up now, belting through his next service game without even looking like losing a point. Tsonga, in contrast, looks woozy and stunned, his final effort a disastrous drop shot that loops into the net.

"Tsonga can't quite believe this. I haven't seen Murray play this aggressively in a long time."

"Every forehand Murray hit was 20% harder in that point. Now it's Tsonga taking a little extra time, redoing his shoelaces."

This is bubbling up into quite a match, with both men scrapping out every point on a humid New York afternoon. Murray forces the game to deuce and saves a game point by chasing down an under-hit drop shot and slamming it across the court. A horribly wayward Tsonga forehand presents Murray with a chance to break back, but Tsonga saves it with his sixth ace of the match. A bulldozer of a return gives Murray another break point, and this time he take it with a fizzing forehand crosscourt pass.

Tsonga has made 24 unforced errors to Murray's nine, and yet we could soon be level at one set all. Tsonga makes Murray work hard to hold serve, but the Scot puts it away with a sublime forehand drop shot, which spins off the court and out of Tsonga's reach.

John McEnerney: Both of these guys suffer from lapses in concentration, Andy less over the last few years but it still happens! Eye on the prize!

pauline smith: Come on Andy! Going to US Open this week and I would like to see you playing!

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Tsonga is persisting with his forays to the net - with mixed results. He plants a backhand volley long before Murray unfurls a perfect lob to take it to 30-all. Tsonga picks a bad time to serve a double fault, giving Murray a break point, but Murray can't pull off a forehand pass. Two huge serves later and Tsonga has a two-game lead.

"The concern I have for Andy Murray - not only in this match, but to win another grand slam - is that he needs to get more zip on his second serve."

Murray is undergoing one of those worrying blips that he seemed to eliminate under Ivan Lendl's watch. He slips to 15-30 down on his serve, but with the spectre of a double break looming, he finds his poise to force two errors from Tsonga and take the game.

Tsonga, sweat glistening on his forearms, is in full flow, whipping forehands into the corners and prowling around the court with intent. When Murray nets a simple backhand, the break is consolidated.

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Tsonga shows his prowess at the net to open the door to a service break at 30-30. Murray hammers home a rare smash, but is pegged back to deuce by Tsonga. A piledriver of a backhand earns the Frenchman a break point and Murray loses his focus fatally at the key moment when he tamely surrenders the game by netting a dreadful drop shot. Oh Andy. Just when we thought you'd turned a corner, you go and reverse straight into the gate post.

This is a strange one. At 40-0, Tsonga appears to be distracted by some sweat dripping into his eye and completely misses the ball. The Frenchman claims he pulled out but the replay tells a different story and the umpire calls second serve. Murray nets the return anyway and Tsonga has his hold.

Tsonga makes an early statement of intent in the second set with blistering winners off both flanks to take it to 30-30. Murray responds with greater depth and puts away a winner from halfway through the court. A strong serve puts Tsonga on the back foot and the Frenchman concedes the game with a forehand that misses the side line.

One of the most eye-catching aspects of the first set was the players' neon trainers.

But they're not to everyone's taste - actor and comedian Will Ferrell gave Andy Murray's fashion sense a playful put-down when the pair met at the tournament this week.

"Wow. I loved the fist-pump right into the Tsonga face. Murray's been looking sharp ever since that cramping incident (against Robin Haase). What I loved about that cramping incident was that he didn't ask for a trainer. I loved that attitude."

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Murray steps things up when it matters. Some clever changes of pace induce errors from Tsonga and give Murray two set points. Tsonga saves the first with a brute of a backhand, but Murray chips and charges on the second, putting away the set with a brilliant backhand volleyed winner. Sensational tennis from the British number one.

"Andy is in control of his service game. He has to keep it segregated in his mind, between the frustration of returning and the confidence of serving."

No let-up from Murray. Tsonga can hardly lay a racquet on the Scot's serve and will now have to serve to stay in this first set.

There's a bit of a pattern emerging. The deeper a rally goes, the more likely Tsonga is to win the point. The Frenchman, dressed all in black, opens up a 40-15 but nets a backhand to give Muzza hope. A huge forehand from the Frenchman, however, seals the deal and takes it to 5-5.

At 0-30 down, Tsonga decides enough is enough and drills an unreturnable shot to Murray's backhand. But a neat overhead gives Murray a 40-15 lead and the Scot wraps up the game with a blast down the middle that Tsonga can only nick to first slip.

Anything you can do? Tsonga cramps up Murray with a body serve and holds to love. Meanwhile, we now know the man the winner of this match will be facing in the last eight...

"A collective sigh floats around the stadium as an unexpected gust of cool breeze drifts over the stands. The heat isn't worrying Murray so far, and he's a different player with the cavernous spaces of Ashe to explore, as opposed to the more confined Armstrong. With the breeze come the first few grey clouds looming into view."

Murray's serve has been almost flawless so far. An ace down the middle, his third of the match, puts him 4-3 in front.

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Kay Kas: Murray will definitely win. Tsonga needs a proper breakthrough to be a champ.

ollie reynolds: Tsonga loses too many points easily, but if he is consistent he has a chance.

Murray has not failed to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam since the US Open in 2010. Tsonga, the 2008 US Open runner-up, has not got past the fourth round at his last four.

But this is better from the Frenchman as he works Murray around the court and controls the game, holding serve to 15.

Former professional tennis player Jeff Tarango: "Tsonga has all the pressure on him. For Tsonga to be able to stay positive is going to be a challenge for him."

Murray, stubbly and steely, looks really fired up for this one. He completes another straightforward hold with a sizzler of a cross-court forehand.

Tsonga is hanging in there ... for now. He is under pressure on his serve again at 0-30 but fights back to 30-all. From deuce, Murray forces two break points, but can't get enough on his returns, and Tsonga clings on to tie the score.

Superb from Murray. Three big first serves open up a 40-0 lead in the blink of an eye. Tsonga chases down a drop shot but there is so much spin on the ball that he can't control his shot and the game is up.

Tsonga is the slower to settle, and two ugly mis-hits give Murray an early sniff at deuce. Tsonga opts to serve and volley and lands and puts away a crisp backhand, but two more unforced errors from the Frenchman give Murray a break point. Tsonga responds well to the early pressure and levels up when Murray dumps a backhand into the net.

Murray slams down his 19th ace of the tournament to go 30-0 ahead, then completes a service hold to love when Tsonga twice hits backhands long. "What's that you said about my game, Jo-Wilfried?"

Former professional tennis player Jeff Tarango: "I would say Tsonga in four if you really made me go out on a limb."

Back to the present and the warm-ups are complete. Murray takes a last sip of lemon squash, towels down his face and gets ready to serve in the first game of the match...

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One result from today to bring you. Two-time defending champion Serena Williams set up a quarter-final clash with Flavia Pennetta after a straight sets win over Kaia Kanepi.

The 6-3 6-3 victory ensured Williams, 32, remains on course to become only the second woman in the Open Era to win three consecutive US Open titles.

So how do you see this match shaping up? Have you seen enough from Murray to suggest he can beat Tsonga? Or will French flair trump British brawn? Get in touch via #bbctennis on Twitter, text us on 81111, or comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page.

The players are completing their warm-ups on Arthur Ashe stadium court on a sultry Labor Day out in New York. The winner of this match will probably face world number one Novak Djokovic, who has won the first two sets of his fourth-round match against Philipp Kolschreiber of Germany over on Louis Armstrong.

Not surprisingly, Murray sees things differently. Asked how concerned he was by his failure to beat a top-10 player for 13 months, Murray, seeded eighth, said: "Not as much as you guys would think.

"I've beaten many top-10 players over the course of my career in these events, so I'm sure it will happen soon and I hope that's the case on Monday.

"I've had good results against Jo in the past. I lost to him a few weeks ago in Canada but I won against him a few times in a row before that.

"We grew up playing in the juniors and we've played 11 times on the tour, so I know his game pretty well."

Emboldened by that victory, Tsonga has been making a few unflattering comments about Murray, implying the Scot has lost his aura in the locker room.

Tsonga said: "The locker room is maybe a bit less afraid of Andy because he's losing a few more matches than in the past. But I don't know any player who once on court is going to be super confident against Andy.

"He's different than in the past maybe because I feel he's not serving as strong as he used to, nor maybe hitting as strong as he used to.

"And during matches he's showing more when he seems in pain with his back or hip region, I'm not sure. You can see it on some moves, too."

Over the years, Murray has generally had the beating of the athletic Tsonga, winning nine of their first 10 meetings. But the Frenchman ended a six-year losing run with victory in Toronto earlier this month after Murray had let slip a 3-0 lead in the final set.

"The weather forecast warned of a humid, thundery, wet afternoon in New York, but so far we've just had the humidity - and plenty of it. Novak Djokovic has been dripping with sweat from the opening moments against Philipp Kohlschreiber, and Flushing Meadows feels like a giant sauna right now. The conditions will test everyone's fitness, with memories of Murray's opening day cramp not fully erased by his two matches since."

Evening all. Thank you for joining us for Andy Murray's US Open fourth round meeting with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France. Murray was the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2012, but since capping an unforgettable 12 months by winning Wimbledon in July 2013, he has not beaten a single player inside the top 10 and has slipped to ninth in the world.

Is Murray about to re-join the path to tennis greatness or continue to veer worryingly towards the ranks of the nearly men?

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Would the real Andy Murray please stand-up?