Tennis: Murray booed for using drop shot

British tennis star Andy Murray was booed by a predominantly French crowd at the Monte Carlo Masters today after using drop shots against his injured French opponent.

Murray progressed to the quarter finals of the tournament with a 6-3 6-3 third round win over Gilles Simon but he didn't walk away with any new fans - after making the most of an opponent who was struggling to move.

Simon suffered a twisted ankle early into the second set but carried on with a heavy strapped foot.

World number four Murray made the most of Simon's restricted movement and played successful drop shots to gain the upper hand. However boos rang out throughout the crowd after each attempt, Reuters reports.

"I wasn't bothered at all. I was doing what I had to," Murray told reporters.

"Every player on the tour would have done exactly the same thing. I wasn't doing anything wrong. We'll see the reaction tomorrow," he smiled.

Simon backed his opponent saying: "You play to win."

Murray told Sky Sports that he had to put the foot down and make the most of the advantage of an injured opponent.

"You know you are in the driving seat and you want to put the foot down and finish the match as efficiently as possible. Drop shots were winning me virtually every single point - I had to keep moving him."

Murray will play Portugal's Frederico Gil in the quarterfinals.

- HERALD ONLINE