Andy Murray will face Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open after his fourth round opponent Mikhail Kukushkin was forced to retire from Monday’s fourth-round clash (Murray 5/1 Australian Open outright).

The Scot was in total control of his game against the Kazakh, leading 6-1 6-1 1-0 when his opponent decided to call it quits because of a hip problem.

Having come through two gruelling five set clashes to reach the fourth round Kukushkin had nothing left in the tank and Murray took full advantage before the match came to an abrupt end.

The world number four will now face Nishikori in the quarter-finals after he produced something of a shock to see off sixth seed and 2008 runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets.

Murray has played against the Japanese player once, defeating him in straight sets in Shanghai towards the back end of last year.

The British number one will hope Nishikori will have the same problems as Kukushkin after having his ankle strapped and using a lot of energy in the sweltering heat at Melbourne Park.

Nishkori (100/1 Australian Open outright) is the first Japanese player to reach the quarter-finals at the Australian Open in 80 years and is relishing the prospect.

“I’m feeling unbelievable,” Nishikori said. “To reach my first quarter-final and beating Tsonga makes me really happy.

“Hopefully it’s big in Japan. A lot of people messaged me when I got to last 16. Now I’m in the quarter-finals, it’s really exciting.”