His timing was off, his frustration levels were up, but eventually Andy Murray got over determined Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis to make the Australian Open fourth round.

Third seed Murray won 6-3 6-4 7-5 on Rod Laver Arena on Saturday, but it was anything but a regulation straight sets victory for the Scot.

World No.110 Berankis tested Murray’s nerve – and at one point his anger management skills – before the Briton’s quality prevailed.

Murray made a rare show of anger as he smashed his racquet on the court during the second set, in which he trailed by a break.

But he then reeled off four successive games to win the set, though he again had some nervous moments late in the third.

While serving for the set, Berankis broke him.

But the response from Murray was instant, breaking back and serving out the match at his second attempt.

Murray admits there is plenty of improvement to make on his performance against Berankis if he is to advance towards a possible final with world No.1 Novak Djokovic.

“I was struggling, and sometimes when you’re struggling, you get frustrated,” Murray said.

“I need to strike the ball better – my timing is off.

“I was mistiming a lot of balls and leaving a lot of balls short.”

No first-time men’s grand slam winner in the Open era has gone on to win their next grand slam event – meaning last year’s US Open winner Murray has a hoodoo to overcome at Melbourne Park.

Murray now plays the winner of the all-French clash between Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon in the fourth round on Monday.