Andy Murray of Britain hits a return to Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia at the Wimbledon tennis championships in London June 24, 2011. [Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Fourth seed Andy Murray advanced into the last 16 at Wimbledon on Friday at the cost of Croatian Ivan Ljubicic in 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/4).

The British top player will face French 17th seed Richard Gasquet on Monday for a place in the quarterfinals.

The 24-year-old, looking to become the first British men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936, was broken first at the first set, trailing 3-4, but he took the next three games to claim the opener.

The Croatian, bidding to reach the last 16 for the first time, was comfortably on top in the second before Murray enjoyed a double break in a one-sided third set.

Murray broke to lead 3-2 in the fourth set and his confidence was so high at this stage that he even won a point with a cheeky between the legs shot at the net in the seventh game.

But Ljubicic rallied from 2-4 down to lead 6-5 before Murray played the smoother tie-breaker.

Gasquet was two sets to love ahead of Murray in their fourth round meeting at Wimbledon in 2008 before the Scot rallied to win.