ANDY MURRAY plans to go deep into the French Open after being given an easy ride into the fourth round last night.

The British number one was ahead 7/6 (7/3) 6-3 in his round-three match against Janko Tipsarevic when the Serb retired with what he has confirmed as an injury to his right hamstring.

Tipsarevic, who has now withdrawn because of injury in five of his 21 Grand Slams, revealed after the match he first felt problems at the start of the first set, even though he went 5-2 up in that opener.

Murray, who takes on 13th seed Marin Cilic next, will not care a jot.

He is now in uncharted territory at Roland Garros, the best previous performance here coming last year when he was eliminated in the third round by Spaniard Nicolas Almagro, and he plans to go much further.

‘‘I will try to do better – I would love to go deep into the tournament,’’ said the Scot.

‘‘I am playing well enough to do it. I need to keep my consistency.

Because physically it’s not been too demanding.’’ Starting in baking conditions, Murray – who has also beaten Juan Ignacio Chela and Potito Starace this week – started sluggishly and was broken twice to go 5-2 down in the first set.

Murray pulled it back to 5-5, saving two set points, and they traded breaks prior to a tie-break Murray dominated, winning its last three points.

The first sign Tipsarevic was in trouble came after he had been broken in the first game of the second set.

The world number 65 received treatment on the upper part of his left leg on the first changeover.

The Serb continued – and even went on to break back immediately – but he was moving gingerly and it was a matter of when, rather than if, he was going to quit.

Grimacing after every point, he did just that after seeing Murray flash a backhand past him to take the second set, Tipsarevic gesturing the battle was lost and ruefully shaking hands with the Briton.

Murray said he first realised his opponent was struggling when the trainer was called at 1-0 in the second set.

‘‘I didn’t see much wrong with him in the first set,’’ he added.

‘‘He maybe slowed down his serve a little bit.

‘‘It’s one of those things that can be tough sometimes when you don’t know how bad someone’s problem is or if they’re going to come out firing.’’ Cilic will provide Murray with a real test, even though the Croat admits his favourite surface is grass.

Standing at 6ft 6in, his serve is a formidable weapon and he has not dropped a set this week.

Reigning champion Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, feels close to his best after ruthlessly dismissing Lleyton Hewitt to sweep into the fourth round.

The Spaniard, aiming for a fifth successive title at Roland Garros, was not entirely convincing in his opening two wins – over Marcos Daniel and Teimuraz Gabashvili – but he stepped up a gear today, smashing Hewitt 6-1 6-3 6-1.

Robin Soderling, the 23rd seed, is Nadal’s next opponent and he has warned the Swede about his improving form.

‘‘I felt much better today than the other days,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve improved a little bit every day. You must be playing well to beat Lleyton.

‘‘It’s an amazing result for me. I’m happy, really happy.’’ Hewitt, the former world number one, admitted Nadal was in a different league on Philippe Chatrier court.

‘‘He’s as good as he’s ever been right now,’’ said the Australian.

‘‘He’s number one in the world and his record on all surfaces is good.”