The crying Scotsman: Ten days until Wimbledon and Murray takes a tumble

But he hit the slippery deck about as often as the former British No 1 and it was much less amusing.

His falls throughout a resourceful victory over Ernests Gulbis cast doubt on his ability to participate in Friday's quarter-finals of the Artois Championships.

Down but not out: Murray slips and takes his time getting up

Murray required running repairs during a 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 win that took two hours, the most serious of which was to a sprained right thumb that is due to take the brunt of Andy Roddick's howitzer serve.

The British No 1 was unhappy at the slick state of the courts at west London's Queen's Club and while any threat to his Wimbledon chances seems remote, he was concerned about his immediate prospects.

He said: 'I'm told I've sprained my thumb and it will depend on whether it affects my grip. Roddick hits 140mph serves and that's probably not the best thing for a sprain. If it can't get any worse I'll play through the pain.

'I felt really uncomfortable on the court and just wanted to get through the match. I know grass courts are meant to be slippy but they're not meant to be that bad.'

It is to be hoped that he will be able to tackle the American. The 21-year-old Scot would go in bolstered by a fine victory in trying circumstances against an opponent who lived up to his billing as one of the most exciting prospects in the game.

This was a good one to find a way out of, a contest punctuated by more massaging than you would find on a Friday night in Bangkok.

Murray needed constant treatment at changeovers after various falls. The most scary looking was when, for a shocking few moments, he looked to have torn his groin when slipping over behind the baseline.

He also required rubbing on his neck after falling flat on his back but the thumb injury caused by a dive at the net is the only real concern.

Murray was so anxious that he considered quitting and called ATP supervisor Mark Darby on to the court to ask if he considered it playable.

The problems were exacerbated by light rain which started after three games in the first set and the players having to finish the game before play was suspended.

Andy Murra

Murray was unhappy that they were back out so quickly after the brief shower. Play on neighbouring Court One had already been suspended for several minutes when Murray and the 19-year-old Latvian were told to take a break.

'I was surprised we got back on so quickly because it was so slippy that I didn't think that 10 minutes was really enough to dry the court,' added Murray. 'Even at the changeover before, I'd asked if he thought the courts were dangerous.'

The courts at Queen's, as Murray conceded, have an unparalleled reputation but they are unusually soft this year due to the heavy rainfall of the last two months and, specifically, in the last two weeks.

It must also be said that Gulbis kept his feet rather better than his opponent. Murray played one loose game at 5-5 to lose the first set but became stronger through the treatments in the second and profited from some deft drop shots.

Apart from the greasy surface, the light was murky at times. A tight deciding set was effectively clinched on break point at 4-4 when he reached a Gulbis smash and scorched a backhand winner down the line.

Gulbis is definitely one for the future and so is 18-year-old Japanese Kei Nishikori, who later took Rafael Nadal to three sets.

Roddick had gone through when opponent Mardy Fish retired. World No 15 Fernando Gonzalez was given three warnings for racket abuse which eventually saw him docked a game against giant Croat Ivo Karlovic.

It was the last one of the match and brought forward a 6-3, 7-5 defeat. Mel South has become only the third Briton to reach the quarter-finals of the DFS Classic.

She enjoyed a 2-6, 6-4, 6-4 win over Aiko Nakamura, the world No 78 from Japan.

Only Jo Durie and Anne Hobbs have carried British hopes past the third round.

South, 22, said: 'I started a little bit nervously but I still had belief that I could turn it around. It was a big match for me. It did mean a lot to me and that got me through in the end.'

South faces 18-year- old Belgian Yanina Wickmayer.