Andy Murray battles past Ivo Karlovic to reach quarter-finals for eighth straight year

The British number one Murray required seven set points before finally sealing the opening set 9-7 in the tie-break against his 6ft 11ins opponent, now a sprightly 36, who had served more aces than any other player in the history of Wimbledon and 136 aces in reaching the last 16.

"It is difficult to get the balance right on how your are going to play the match (against Karlovic), but it was all about getting through today..that's what I wanted," said Murray, who was forced to deal with 29 aces from his opponent.

"I came out with some good lobs & some good passing shots, which stopped him getting so close to the net which was important.

"It was more mentally tiring than physically because the points are quite quick, but you have to be ready when a chance comes."

Karlovic was the oldest player to reach the last 16 of a Grand Slam since American Jimmy Connors, then 39, managed the feat at the US Open in 1991.

The Croatian player showed why is such a formidable force on grass by claiming the third set with Murray knocking a forehand long from deep as the Scot served to try to force a breaker trailing 5-6.

Murray had moved two sets clear by breaking Karlovic for the first time in the match to move 2-0 clear in the second set, an advantage he never relinquished in seeing out the second set 6-4.

He broke in the seventh game of the fourth set for a 4-3 lead and finally completed the victory in just over three hours as Karlovic knocked a return long on Murray's second match point.

With Rafael Nadal losing to Dustin Brown in the second round, Murray no longer has to confront the two-times champion in the last eight.

He will instead face Canada's world number 56 Vasek Pospisil on Wednesday after he recovered from two sets down to complete a 4-6 6-7 6-4 6-3 6-3 win over Viktor Troicki.

"He may be a little bit tired, but also very confident," said Murray of an opponent who has been forced to play 10 sets in his past two wins, including a rosuing success against James Ward in the last 32 on Saturday.

Pospisil was also involved in doubles match later on Monday against Jamie Murray and John Peers where he is defending the title with Jack Sock.

Murray has dropped the third set in his past two matches against Andreas Seppi and Karlovic, but will be heartened by his response in managing to stave off the threat of a final set in both matches.